Hyderabad, March 25, 2008: The CPI today demanded that the Centre amend the SEZ Act to prevent governments from acquiring lands and also to enforce trade union laws in those zones.

The CPI passed a resolution at its national congress here seeking removal of provisions such as declaring SEZs as foreign territory and withdrawal of tax exemptions given to SEZs.

All industries should be provided with level playing field. Giving concessions to industries in SEZs will be detrimental, as industries elsewhere will either close down or shift to SEZs depriving the state the revenue for developmental works, the resolution said.

It said over 600 SEZs have been approved with the Centre acquiring large extents of agricultural lands and as a consequence farmers are being deprived of their livelihood while businesses gain. n SNS

Source: The Statesman