Mumbai:
Close on the heels of the deaths in police firing in Nandigram,
the centre has announced changes in rules for special
economic zones (SEZs) and made developers solely responsible
for rehabilitation of displaced persons.
The commerce ministry, which is the nodal agency for approving
SEZs, has announced the changes ahead of the finalisation
of a rehabilitation policy being worked out by the ministry
of rural development.
"The developer (of special economic zones) shall
make adequate provision for rehabilitation of the displaced
persons as per the relief and rehabilitation policy of
the state government," a commerce ministry notification
said.
The notification also announced that the validity for
'in-principle' approval has been reduced from three years
to one year.
The validity for formal approval, however, remains three
years because land possession is essential for getting
the final nod from the Board of Approval in the commerce
ministry.
The developer will have to show it possesses irrevocable
rights over the land.
The announcement also coincides the planned meeting of
leaders of
UPA as well as the Left parties at the prime minister's
residence.
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