January 13, 2008: It is a year since Nandigram, and a fortnight since Goa. In both places, the locals overturned ill-considered decisions of the state governments. The same thoughtlessness pervades the Central approval process for special economic zones (SEZ), as argued by Partha Mukhopadhyay in Mint’s views pages on 8 January. This slapdash attitude to regulatory responsibilities can damage the government’s credibility. (more…)

Vikas Dhoot

New Delhi, January 13, 2008: With the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act set to complete two years since its enactment on February 10, 2006, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath last week sent a detailed report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the impact of the SEZ policy. Presenting success stories as well as expected investment and employment generation from approved SEZs, Nath noted that they have made “a major impact on employment generation and mobilisation of private investment in building up infrastructure”. (more…)