Centre awaiting land acquisition rehab package details from States

Our Bureau

THE FINLAND President, Ms Tarja Halonen, and the Minister for Commerce
and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, during a meeting with businessmen, in the
Capital on Tuesday. — Kamal Narang

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New Delhi Jan. 23 The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal
Nath, on Tuesday said that the UnionGovernment was awaiting the land
acquisition rehabilitation package from the State Governments for
farmers whose land is acquired for creation of SEZs. He also ruled out
placing any cap on the number of SEZs.

Speaking to newspersons during a meeting with the President of Finland,
Ms Tarja Halonen, jointly organised by Assocham, CII and FICCI, Mr Nath
said that the Union Government had already asked the Chief Ministers to
submit a land acquisition package to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on SEZs.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and other relevant departments will
consider the rehabilitation package so that more than adequate
compensation is paid to farmers whose land is acquired for SEZ purposes,
the Minister said.

The GoM would again meet shortly and deliberate on the land
rehabilitation package with due consultation with State Governments
concerned, said Mr Nath.

Earlier, speaking on Indo-Finnish Economic Trade, Mr Nath said that the
trade balance was currently in favour of Finland and in due course of
time, India's trade engagements would mount substantially with Finland.

The Minister sought the support of Finland for the Doha developmental
round on WTO, urging it to support India and its stand on agricultural
subsidies, as this round has to be concluded successfully to ensure that
trade flows increase between developing world to developed world.

During the meeting, Ms Halonen offered Finland's complete support to
India in the forthcoming developmental rounds of WTO, hoping that these
will reach the logical end to ensure sustainable social and
environmental development of both developed and developing world.

India, she said, was one of the key partners in WTO and will play a very
significant role in the next WTO negotiations with necessary Finland
support and both India and Finland would come closer to forge their
partnership in the field of education, environment and knowledge to make
quality products.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012402861400.htm