Govt may plug SEZ loopholes, won’t step back

NEW DELHI: Facing criticism on the SEZ issue, particularly after the Nandigram police firing, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday hinted that the government would go slow on the process due to certain “inadequacies”, but made it clear that the decision was “irreversible”.

“These are decisions which are irreversible. Therefore, it is very important that before we move, if there are any gaps in the performance, gaps in the design and gaps in the implementation, we should halt a little bit even though it takes time,” Mr Singh said at a conclave here.

His comments came in response to a question whether government proposed to overhaul the SEZ policy in view of strong reservations in several quarters. But the cost of delay was going to be much less than the cost that would arise if policies were “bulldozed” regardless of the human, social and economic concerns, he said adding these concerns needed to be addressed “if we want the policy to succeed in the long run”.

On the issue of land acquisition for public purposes, the PM said “there have been inadequacies in compensation and in ensuring that interests of all stakeholders who suffer in this process are taken into account”. The government was in the process of formulating “humane, effective and just policy” with regard to resettlement of land oustees”, Mr Singh added.

Asked about PDP patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed’s demand for troop reduction from civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the process of discussion was under way and he would not like to conduct a dialogue through the media. The Prime Minister, however, emphasised that professional advice (from the Army) would be taken into account before considering the issue.