Forward Bloc not to allow SEZs in Bengal

[ 7 Mar, 2007 1857hrs ISTPTI ]

RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates

KOLKATA: Opposing the CPI-M's FDI driven-industrialisation in West
Bengal, ruling Left Front partner Forward Bloc on Wednesday said it will
not allow any special economic zones to be set up in the state.

"We will not allow SEZs to come up in West Bengal at any cost.
Industries can be established without setting up SEZs," state Forward
Bloc secretary Ashok Ghosh told reporters here.

"Nor will we allow the state government to relax the land ceiling to
make way for multi-product SEZs," he said.

Ghosh made it clear that the CPI-M could not push through SEZs and relax
the land ceiling laws by virtue of its strength in the Assembly while
ignoring its partners in the Left Front.

Asked what would happen to the six SEZs approved by the Centre for West
Bengal, Ghosh said firmly: "No SEZ will be allowed to be set up in West
Bengal."

Senior Forward Bloc leader Hafiz Ali Sairani said, "Chief Minister
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had promised Left Front partners that his
government will follow guidelines set by the four Left parties in Delhi."

Two other major non-CPI-M members of the Left Front, CPI and RSP, too
have opposed the proposed SEZs and land ceiling relaxation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Forward_Bloc_not_to_allow_SEZs_in_Bengal/articleshow/1732185.cms