(a) whether the ministry is considering a proposal to establish a commission to map non-agricultural land that could be used for industrial and other economic purposes;
(b) if so, the time by which such a proposal is likely to be implemented;
(c) whether the Union Government is proposing to suggest the State Governments that non-agricultural land be used for setting up SEZ`s in the country; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY)
(a) : No, Sir.
(b) : Does not arise.
(c)&(d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c)&(d) OF STARRED
QUESTION NO. 348 FOR 7.9.2007 REGARDING NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND.
As intimated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(Department of Commerce), the administrative Ministry for
development of Special Economic Zone (SEZs), land being a State
subject, it is the primary responsibility of the State
Government to ensure that the land use proposed by the developer
(be it a State Industrial Development Corporation or a private
company) is earmarked for industrial use. The Board of Approval
for SEZ only considers those proposals which have been duly
recommended by the State Governments who had earlier been
advised that in case of land acquisition for Special Economic
Zones, first priority should be for acquisition of waste and
barren land and if necessary single crop agricultural land could
be acquired for the SEZs. If perforce a portion of double
cropped agricultural land has to be acquired to meet the minimum
area requirements, especially for multi-product Special Economic
Zones, the same should not exceed 10% of the total land required
for the SEZ.