| SEZs have become the most talked about in
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| | agricultural prospects.'
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| the Indian economic circles, its lack of
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| | Capping months of debate on the pros and
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| clear policy has provoked strong
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| | cons of developing Special Economic Zones
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| opposition from leftist political
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| | (SEZs), the commerce ministry has issued
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| parties, activists, farmers groups,
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| | a caveat that prime agricultural land
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| economists and urban planners. However
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| | should not be used for business purposes
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| the government of India is moving ahead
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| | India's commerce ministry has asked the
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| with the programme to set up special
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| | chief ministers of all Indian states to
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| economic zones (SEZs) to trigger a
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| | ensure that prime agricultural land was
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| manufacturing wave in the country. Amid
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| | not allotted to business houses for
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| evidence of an undercurrent of rural
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| | development as Special Economic Zones
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| hostility to giant industrial zones
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| | (SEZ), and that in any event agricultural
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| coming up on agricultural land, Posco, a
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| | land must not exceed 10% of the land
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| South Korean steel company, was last week
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| | allotted. The commerce ministry's
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| permitted to set up a 1,600ha SEZ in
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| | clarification, which also underlines that
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| mineral-rich Orissa state.
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| | farmers be adequately compensated for
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| Posco plans to invest 530 billion rupees
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| | their land and rehabilitated fairly,
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| (S$18 billion) in the zone. Some 30 other
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| | comes in the face of mounting concern
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| SEZ applications have now won the backing
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| | that diverting agricultural land for the
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| of the Board of Approvals, taking the
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| | development of business interests, that
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| total number of SEZ proposals cleared to
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| | too at government rates, was riding
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| 181. The government sees boosting
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| | roughshod over the interests of India's
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| manufacturing as crucial to balancing the
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| | farmers. This has come as a reality check
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| country's economic growth. Untypical for
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| | for state governments that have been
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| a developing country, India's services
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| | aggressively pushing their SEZ proposals
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| sector contributes about 54 per cent of
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| | for clearance from the Centre. So far,
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| GDP. Economists say a China-style push to
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| | the Indian government has handed out over
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| manufacturing is needed to provide jobs
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| | 150 licenses to set up SEZs; another 200
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| for the unemployed and those migrating
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| | applicants are on the waiting list.
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| from farm work.
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| | However, the chief minister of Andhra
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| But SEZs also have raised some
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| | Pradesh - the biggest beneficiary of SEZs
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| controversy in India. Finance Minister P.
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| | so far has categorically ruled out any
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| Chidambaram has warned of massive revenue
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| | review of SEZs already cleared for the
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| losses because of the tax breaks accorded
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| | state. It said that SEZs should serve
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| to companies in the zones. With SEZ being
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| | as a bridge between rural and urban
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| under the charge of the Commerce
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| | economies. The concept of PURA (Provision
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| Ministry, there has been a turf war of
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| | of Urban Facilities in Rural Areas),
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| sorts between him and Commerce Minister
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| | which is how developed countries have
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| Kamal Nath. As well, several political
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| | holistically conceptualized their rural
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| leaders are uncomfortable about pushing
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| | habitations, needs to be remembered at a
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| farmers off land in a nation where six in
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| | time when India is entering an era of
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| 10 people depend on agriculture for a
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| | SEZs. The explosion in the economy
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| living. Mrs. Gandhi, who chairs the
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| | envisaged through SEZs will have to be
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| ruling coalition, said: 'Prime
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| | linked to integrated infrastructure in
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| agricultural land should not be diverted
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| | rural and urban areas. India should focus
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| to non- agricultural uses and, even if
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| | on comprehensive and integrated spatial
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| this is resorted to for unavoidable
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| | planning within and beyond SEZs. This
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| reasons, this should not jeopardize
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| | however is a dream come true here.
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