The Indian government is open to making changes in 5,000-hectare land ceiling for Special Economic Zones which was decided at the meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers about two weeks back.
"We have a broad parameter. If there are any specific or area-specific issues, which do not have any controversy, of course we will look at it (the ceiling) in certain conditions," Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said in Beijing on Tuesday.
"This is not the Gita or the Bible. No?" Nath said when asked whether the government would have a re-look into the land ceiling policy for setting up SEZs.
Nath's remark comes a day after Reliance, whose two projects would be impacted by the ceiling, said the government would change its mind on the issue.
"I am sure this is not a final 'no.' There is much more to come. We will go to the government, we will place our ideas with them, and we are sure that they will change their mind," Reliance's SEZ group head Anand Jain had told a TV channel.
The agreement to limit the size of SEZs was the one of the major factors leading to lifting the freeze on these zones that was in place since January. The limit was expected to put to rest controversy surrounding land acquisitions for SEZs.
