New Delhi Says commerce ministry’s suggestion for change in norms will only facilitate ‘land grabbing by pvt sector’

Finance ministry has strongly opposed the proposal to further liberalise the norms for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), saying the commerce ministry’s suggestion will only facilitate “land grabbing by the private sector”. The commerce ministry recently sought relaxation in the minimum area requirement and the land contiguity norms for SEZs in a bid to prop up export growth from these zones. Growth in exports from SEZs is still in double digits, but lower than overall export growth, raising questions over the need for these enclaves that enjoy sundry tax sops