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Lok Sabha Debates

Combined Discussion On Statutory Resolution Regarding Disapproval Of Special ... on 26 June, 2019

Seventeenth Loksabha pan> title: Combined discussion on Statutory Resolution regarding Disapproval of Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (No. 12 of 2019 ) and Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Statutory Resolution-Negatived and Government Bill-Passed).

   

माननीयसभापति :  माननीयसदस्यगण,अबहममदसंख्या 9 और 10 कोएकसाथचर्चाकेलिएलेंगे ।

 

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN (KOLLAM):  Sir, I beg to move:

“That this House disapproves of the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (No.12 of 2019) promulgated by the President on 2 March, 2019.”     THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL): I beg to move:

“That the Bill to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, be taken into consideration.”   महोदय, भारतएशियाके विभिन्नदेशोंमें लगभगपहला देशथा, जिसनेइस बातको समझाकि निर्यातको कैसेप्रोत्साहनदिया जाए, कैसेदेश सेपूरी दुनियाके साथवाणिज्यको बढ़ायाजाए, ट्रेडको बढ़ायाजाए, कैसेभारत मेंउत्पादितहुई चीजोंको पूरीदुनियाके मार्केट्सतक पहुंचानाचाहिएऔर कैसेलंबे समयतक देशकी अर्थव्यवस्थाको मजबूतबनानाहै, तोएक्सपोर्टएक बहुतइंपोर्टेंटअंग रहेगाआगे कीअर्थव्यवस्थामें, इसकोदेखतेहुए शुरुआतमें 1965 मेंकांडलामें सबसेपहले एकएक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोन शुरूकिया गयाथा । एक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोन मेंकुछ सुविधाएंदी गईंकि आपबिना इंपोर्टड्यूटीअपने कैपिटलगुड्सला सकतेहैं, मशीनरीवगैरहला सकतेहैं, कुछआपका रॉमैटेरियललगता है, तोउस सामानको बिनाड्यूटीपे किएला सकतेहैं । वहांपर प्रोसेसकरके वहींसे आपविदेशभेज सकतेहैं ।

उससमयलोकलटैक्सेजकीवजहसेभारतकीकईवस्तुएंकम्पिटीटिवनहींरहपातीथीं,प्रतियोगितामेंखड़ेनहींरहपातेथे,वेअपनासामाननहींबेचपातेहैं । उनसबकोभीसुविधामिलनेलगी । वहप्रयोगसाधारणत:सफलरहा । दुर्भाग्यसेयहबहुतसीमितरहा,हमनेबहुतबड़ेरूपमेंएक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोन्सनहींबनाए । देशमेंसिर्फसातप्रोसेसिंगजोनबनेथे । जबमाननीयप्रधानमंत्रीभारतरत्नअटलबिहारीवाजपेयीजीकीसरकारआई,तबतकसातएक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोनलगचुकेथे । अटलजीनेइसबातकेऊपरगहराईसेचिंताकी,विदेशकेअलग-अलगदेशोंमेंक्यामॉडलबनतेहैं,कैसेएक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोनकोआगेबढ़ायाजाए,उसकीचिंताकी । जहांतकमुझेयादहै,उससमयकेवाणिज्यमंत्रीमाननीयमुरासोलीमारनजीकोसिंगापुरऔरचीनएसईजेडदेखनेकेलिएभेजागयाथाकिकैसेएक्सपोर्टप्रोसेसिंगजोनऔरआगेसुविधाजनकहोसकताहै ।

अप्रैल, 2000 में स्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनपॉलिसीएनडीएकेसमयरखीगई । उसपॉलिसीमेंयेकोशिशकीगईकिस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनदेशकीअर्थव्यवस्थाकोगतिदेनेकेलिएएकइंजनकाकामकरे । जैसेहमारीरेलगाड़ीचलतीहै,इंजनपरचलतीहैऔरइंजनतेजगतिसेचलनेकेलिएशक्तिदेताहै,वैसेहीएसईजेडकोभीदेशकीअर्थव्यवस्थाकोइंजनबनानेकेदृष्टिकोणकोसामनेरखतेहुएअटलजीकीसरकारनेपॉलिसीबनाई । जहांतकमुझेयादहैएकतमिलनाडुऔरआंध्रप्रदेशकेबार्डरपरथाऔरदूसरागुजरातमेंथा । इसएसईजेडकीकल्पनायहथीकिकैसेबड़ेपैमानेपरएकजमीनकेहिस्सेकोसरकारउद्योगलगानेकेलिएतैयारकरे,अलग-अलगप्रकारसेइन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चरतैयारकियाजाए । कल्पनायहथीकिउसमेंसाफ-सुथरावातावरणहो,पर्यावरणकीचिंतानहो,उसकेलिएचिंताकीजाए । प्लगएंडप्लेएवेलेवलहो,जोउद्योगलगानाचाहे,नयाव्यापारशुरूकरनाचाहे,उसकोसिंगलविंडोक्लियरेंसकीसुविधाएंएकजगहपरआसानीसेमिले,उसकोकईजगहोंपरभटकनानपड़े ।

अभीबीचमेंथोड़ेसमयकेलिएलंचब्रेकहुआतोमुझेमाननीयप्रधानमंत्रीजीकाभाषणदेखनेसुननेकासौभाग्यमिला । उससमययहीविषयवहांचलरहाथा,जबकईबारभारतीयजनतापार्टीऔरएनडीएसरकारकीआलोचनाहोतीहै । उसकेजवाबमेंप्रधानमंत्रीजीयहीबतारहेथेकिहमउसप्रकारकाओल्डइंडियानहींचाहतेहैं,जिसओल्डइंडियामेंलोगोंकोइंसपेक्टरराजझेलनापड़े,उसओल्डइंडियामेंइन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चरकेअभावमेंउद्योगनपाए । वहअलग-अलगउदाहरणोंसेबतारहेथेकिहमकैसेनएइंडियाकीकल्पनाकरतेहैं । हमभारतकोविश्वशक्तिबनानेकेलिएकामकरतेहैं । यहीसिलसिलाअटलजीने 2000 में प्रयासकरनेकाशुरूकियाथा,अच्छेफिसकलटैक्सबेनिफिटदिएगए । केन्द्रऔरराज्यसरकारदोनोंनेअपने-अपनेकानूनबनानेकीप्रक्रियाकी,नएप्रयोगकोबलदेनेकेलिएकेन्द्रऔरराज्योंसेभीकुछसहयोगमिला,कमसेकमकानूनीदांवपेंचहो,कमसेकमकठिनाइयांहों,प्लगएंडप्ले,सिंगलविंडोऔरसरलव्यवस्थासेलोगकामकरसकें । यहांजोसेवस्तुआएं,वहदुनियामेंबिनाकिसीअड़चनयाबिनाकोईइम्पोर्टड्यूटीकेआसकें । यहांजोवस्तुएंबनतीहैउसेसाधारणत:आसानीसेविदेशभेजाजासके । एकप्रकारएक्सपोर्टकम्पिटेटीवप्रोडक्शनकेलिएएकबहुतबड़ीसोचउससमयकेमाननीयप्रधानमंत्रीश्रीअटलबिहारीवाजपेयीजीनेदेशकेसमक्षरखीथी ।

फिरउसकोऔरबलदेनेकेलिएउससमयकीसरकारने 2005 में एस.ई.जेड.केलिएएककांप्रिहैन्सिवस्पेशलइकोनोमिकजोन्सकाएक्टपारितकियाऔरमैंसमझताहूँ,उसएक्टकेबनजानेसे,एकप्रकारसेएस.ई.जेड.पॉलिसीकोऔरज्यादाबलमिलनाचाहिएथा,औरज्यादाउसकोगतिमिलनीचाहिएथी ।

स्पीकरसर,यहजोस्पेशलइकोनोमिकजोन्सकीकानूनव्यवस्थाबनीहै,यहसन् 2005 में बनी । सन् 2005 तक जिस-जिसप्रकारकेस्ट्रक्चर्समेंलोगकामकरतेथें,उनमेंइंडिविजुअल्सप्रोपराइटरशिपमेंकामकरतेथें,कोईएच.यू.एफमेंकरताथा ,कोई प्राइवेटलिमिटेडकम्पनी,कोईपब्लिकलिमिटेडकम्पनी,अलगअलगप्रकारकेस्ट्रक्चर्समेंकामहोतेथे । उनसभीकोउससमयकेकानूनमेंडिफाइनकियागया । जबकानूनकीडेफिनेशनमेंपर्सन्सकीडेफिनेशनआई,जिनलोगोंकोयहकानूनअप्लाईकरेगा,उसमेंअलग-अलगप्रकारसेकईसारेप्रावधानकिएगएऔरउनप्रावधानोंकेतहतउससमयजोसाधारणत:तरीकेथें,जिनतरीकोंसेलोगकम्पनियांबनातेथे,जिसतरीकेसेलोगोंनेअपनेव्यवहारयाअपनेव्यापारकोप्लानकिया,वहउससमयउन्होंनेप्रोवाइडकिएथे,लेकिनसमयबदलताहै,समयकेसाथ-साथनए-नएतरीकेबनतेहैं,कामकरनेके,व्यापारकरनेकेऔरउससमयकीजोडेफिनेशनथीक्लॉज 5 सेक्शन 2 ऑफ दीएस.ई.जेड. 2005 में उसमेंपर्सनसीमितथा । कोईइंडिविजुअलव्यक्तिहो,चाहेभारतमेंरहे,चाहेविदेशमेंरहे,कोईहिंदूअनडिवाइडेडफैमिलीहो,कॉ-ओपरेटिवसोसाइटीहो,कम्पनीहो,चाहेभारतकीकम्पनीहो,चाहेविदेशकीकम्पनीहो,क्योंकियेएस.ई.जेड.एक्सपोर्टकेलिएहैतोविदेशीकम्पनीभीवहांलगासकतीहै । यहप्रावधानबनायाहै । साथहीसाथकोईफर्महो,पार्टनरशिपफर्महो,प्रोपराइटरीकन्सर्नहो,कोईएसोसिएशनऑफपर्सन्सहो,कईबारकुछलोगमिलकरकामकरतेहैं,लेकिनउसकोपार्टनरशिपकारूपनहींदेते,ए.ओ.पी.बनातेहैं । ऐसेकोईबॉडीऑफइंडिविजुअल्सहो,येभीएकअलगकानूनीतरीकाहै,जिससेलोगमिलकरकोईएककामकरतेहैंऔरफिरबिछड़जातेहैं । लोकलअथॉरिटीहो,जैसेकिकोईकॉरपोरेशनहो,पंचायतहोयाकोईएजेंसीऑफिसयाब्रांच,ऐसीसंस्थाकाहोजोइंडिविजुअलएच.यू.एफ.,कॉ-ऑपरेटिववगैरह-वगैरहतोउसकाकोईब्रांचऑफिसभीवहांलगसकताहै । इसप्रकारसेडेफिनेशनमेंकुछचीजेंलाईगईं,जोउससमयसाधरणतयाचलतीथींलेकिनसमयकेबदलनेकेसाथ-साथएकनयामोडट्रस्टआयाहै । आजकेदिननिवेशकरनेकेलिएकईसारीऐसोसिएशन,कईसारेनिवेशकएकट्रस्टकामॉडलइस्तेमालकरतेहैं,निवेशकरनेकेलिए । कुछलोगजोयहांव्यापारयाउद्योगजगतसेजुड़ेहैं,उनकोयाहमारेविख्यातवकीलहैंउनकोध्यानहोगाकिएकऑल्टरनेटइन्वेस्टमेंटफंडहै-जैसेए.आई.एफ.येनयातरीकानिकलाहै,जिससेलोगआजकलनिवेशकरनेलगेहै । एकप्रकारसेसिमिलरटूएम्यूच्अलफंडऑल्टरनेटइनवेस्टमेंटव्हीकलमें अलग-अलगकम्पनियां,अलग-अलगनिवेशक,पेंशनफंड,प्रोविडेंटफंडकीकम्पनिया,इंश्योरेंसकम्पनियांयेसबअपनापैसाएकऑल्टरनेटइन्वेस्टमेंटफंडमेंट्रस्टकेमाध्यमसेडालतीहैं । वहफिरनिवेशकरताहैऔरजबउसनिवेशमेंसेकुछकमाईहोतीहै,तोजिस-जिससेनिवेशकिया,उनसभीमेंवहबंटजाताहै । तोएकट्रस्टकाकामकरनेकानयारूपआजकलआयाहै ।

          प्रधानमंत्रीनरेन्द्रमोदीजीनेएकप्रयोगकियाहै । जैसेलंडन,सिंगापुर,न्यूयार्क,येबड़ेबड़ेविश्वकेफाइनेन्शियलसेन्टर्सबने,आजविश्वमेंकिसीकोकोईबड़ाकामकरनाहो,बड़ेरूपमेंपैसाइकट्ठाकरनाहो,जिससेबड़ाव्यापारकरसके,बड़ाउद्योगलगासकेंतोसाधारणतयायहइन्टरनेशनलफाइनेन्शियलसेन्टर्सजोअधिकांशरूपमेंपश्चिममेंथे,लंडन,न्यूयार्क,आजकलसिंगापुरबनताजारहाहै । एकनयाइन्टरनेशनलफाइनेन्शियलसेन्टरहांगकांगबनगयाहै । 

भारतमेंइसप्रकारकाकोईइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटरनहींहैं । प्रधानमंत्रीमोदीजीनेगुजरातसेशुरूकिया – गिफ्ट सिटी,जिसमेंएकइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटरबनानेकाप्रयासकियागया । वहांसेशुरूहुआ,अबमेरीजानकारीमेंहैकिशायदमुंबईमेंभीइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटरबनानेकीकल्पनाहैयाबननेजारहाहै । वैसेहीहरियाणामेंभीसुनतेहैंकिवहांकीसरकारप्रपोजकररहीहैकिइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटरबने । इनइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटर्समेंखासतौरपरजबनिवेशहोताहै,जबवहांलोगकामकरनाचाहतेहैं,वहांपरट्रस्टकामॉडलकाफीइस्तेमालहोताहै । इनसबकोमद्देनजररखतेहुएसरकारनेसोचाकिएसईज़ेडएक्टमेंपर्सनकीजोडेफिशनहै,उसमेंट्रस्टकोभीशामिलकियाजाए,जिससेऐसेट्रस्ट्सऔरइनट्रस्ट्सकेमाध्यमसेबड़ेरूपमें ‍निवेशभारतमेंभीआएऔरभारतकीभीपेंशनकंपनीज,प्रॉविडेंटफण्डकंपनीज,इन्श्योरेंसकंपनीजऔरविदेशीकंपनीज,क्योंकिएसईज़ेडविदेशसेसम्पर्करखताहै,तोडोमेस्टिकऔरइंटरनेशनलकंपनीज,सभीकोएकअन्यतरीकामिलेभारतमेंनिवेशकरनेका,जिसेकानूनीप्रक्रियासेपूरीतरीकेमंजूरीमिलीहुईहै । इसलिएएसईज़ेडएक्टमेंट्रस्टकोभीशामिलकियाजाए । यहएकफास्टइवॉल्विंगवर्ल्डहै,दुनियाबदलतीजारहीहै । देशनेतयकियाकिअबइसबदलतीहुईदुनियामेंहमेंभीआगेबढ़नाहै,हमेंकोईपुरानीसोचयापुरानेविचारोंमें,ओल्डइंडियामेंनहींरहनाहै,हमेंउभरतीहुईनईव्यवस्थाओंमेंभारतकोभीआधुनिकबनानाहै,भारतकोभीनयाबनानाहै । उसकेलिएट्रस्टकोभीशामिलकरनाहै । यहखासतौरपरसर्विसेजसेक्टरमेंएन्टिटीबनानेकाएकबहुतकॉमनफॉर्महै । उसकेलिएम्युचुअलफण्ड्स,डेटइनवेस्टमेंटफण्ड्सआदिसभीकोभारतकीतरफआकर्षितकियाजाए,एसईज़ेड्समेंउनकोआकर्षितकियाजाएकिवेलोगबड़ेरूपमेंनिवेशलाएं । सिक्योरिटीजएक्सचेंजबोर्डऑफइंडियानेभीइसेपरवानगीदेदीहैकिइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसेंटरमेंट्रस्टकेरूपमेंकामकरसकतेहैं । रिजर्वबैंकऑफइंडियानेभीइनकोरिकग्नाइजकियाहैकिफाइनेंशियलइंस्टीट्यूशन्सकाकामट्रस्टकेमाध्यमसेकरसकतेहैं । इसबिलकेमाध्यमसेहमसिर्फइतनाप्रावधानलारहेहैंकिट्रस्टकेरूपमेंभीलोगएसईज़ेडमेंकामकरसकतेहैं । चूंकिबदलतीहुईदुनियामेंशायदआगेचलकरऔरकोईनयातरीकाभीकामकरनेकेलिएआसकताहैतोहमेंलगाकियहअच्छारहेगाकिजबहमइसेसंशोधितकरहीरहेहैंतोऐसेसंशोधितकरेंकि ‍ट्रस्टऔरआगेचलकरयदिकोईनयासिस्टमआए,नईएन्टिटीकारूपआएतोसरकारउसेभीनोटिफाईकरसकतीहै । इसकेलिएबार-बारसदनमेंनआनापड़े,उसकेलिएकेन्द्रसरकारकोयहपावरदीजाएकियदिव्यापारकरनेकाऐसाकोईनयातरीकाभारतमेंआताहो,भारतमेंहमउसेप्रोत्साहनदेनाचाहेंतोवहउसेनोटिफाईकरसके ।

          मैंसदनसेदरख्वास्तकरूंगाकिआपइसस्पेशलइकोनोमिकजोन्स(अमेडमेंट)बिल, 2019 को एप्रूवकरेंऔरहमनेजोस्पेशलइकोनोमिकजोन्स(अमेडमेंट)ऑर्डिनेंस, 2019 के माध्यमसेइससिलसिलेकोगतिदेनेकेलिएइश्यूकियाथा,क्योंकिचुनावआरहाथा,लम्बाफ़ासलापड़नेवालाथाऔरहमचाहतेथेकिनिवेशकेकोईप्रपोजल्सअटकनजाएं,उससबकोमद्देनजररखतेहुएइसेऑर्डिनेंसकेरूपमेंलायागयाथा,इसऑर्डिनेंसकोरिप्लेसकरकेअगरसदनआजइसबिलकोपारितकरदेतोमैंसमझताहूंकिआगेइसनएरूपसेभीबड़ेरूपमेंभारतमेंनिवेशआनेकारास्ताबनजाएगा । धन्यवाद ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Motions moved:

“That this House disapproves of the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (No. 12 of 2019) promulgated by the President on 2 March, 2019.”   “That the Bill to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, be taken into consideration.”     SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN (KOLLAM): Thank you very much, Chairman Sir, for giving me this opportunity.

          Sir, I rise to oppose the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 and also the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019, as there is no transparency in this legislation and it also lacks bona fide intentions.

          Sir, it is a well-established constitutional principle that Article 123 (1) can be invoked only in extra-ordinary circumstances when the House is not in Session. It is an independent legislation brought out by the Executive. So, an Ordinance should be issued only under compelling circumstances. Further, Article 123 does not speak about the replacement of an Ordinance by an act of Parliament.

          But as per the conventions, customs, traditions and precedents of this House, we are replacing an Ordinance by an Act of Parliament even though there is no particular provision in the Constitution. So, I fully agree with it. But the ordinance route of legislation is not good for a healthy parliamentary democracy. This is the accepted position taken by the BJP when they were in Opposition. It is not at all good governance. But I do concede and agree with the hon. Minister and the Government that there will arise circumstances by which the Government will be forced to promulgate Ordinances in the case of extraordinary or compelling circumstances as the Government cannot wait for the Parliament to be convened. In such circumstances, it is absolutely inevitable to have the right to issue Ordinances under Article 123 (1). Definitely, we will agree with it.

          Here in this case, if you examine the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, what is the exigency or emergency or extraordinary or compelling circumstance prevailing in this country so as to issue this Ordinance? That is the specific question the hon. Minister has to answer. I cannot find any reason or any compelling circumstance forcing the Government to promulgate such an Ordinance. What was the emergency or urgency existing at the time of election? …(Interruptions) I will substantiate it.

          Sir, this Ordinance was issued on 2nd March, 2019. The 17th Lok Sabha Election Schedule was declared on 10th March, 2019 and the Model Code of Conduct came into effect from that day. So, what is the content of the Ordinance and what is the content of the Bill? It is a small matter. It is simply changing the definition of the term ‘person’ in Section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. On a perusal, we will know that it is a harmless Bill. But let us examine the intent of this Ordinance. The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 was enacted with a view to provide for the establishment, development and management of the Special Economic Zones for the promotion of exports.

The hon. Minister has also quoted the definition. Section 2 (v) of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 says:

“person includes an individual, whether resident in India or outside India, a Hindu undivided family, co-operative society, a company, whether incorporated in India or outside India, a firm, proprietary concern, or an association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, local authority and any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by such individual, Hindu undivided family, co-operative, association, body, authority or company.”   That means, almost all the associations, persons or individuals come within the purview of definition of Section 2 (v). Why “trust or entity” is being incorporated in this definition on 2nd March, 2019 just eight days before the Election Schedule was announced?

          Sir, you may kindly see that those who come within the purview of this definition are eligible to get permission to set up a unit in the Special Economic Zone. If you make an amendment to Section 2 (v) of the Act, you are changing the definition of the term “person”. That means, if an entity or a trust have started a unit in the Special Economic Zone, they will be eligible for getting the benefits as per the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. By this Ordinance, the Government has amended the definition of the term “person” by including “trust or entity” as may be notified by the Government. It means, it can be done as per the whims and fancies of the Government. So, whatever entity or trust, which is being notified by the Government, is eligible for getting the benefits, concessions or incentives in the Special Economic Zones.

          Sir, you may kindly see that the Parliament has limited the scope of the person entitled to start a unit in the Special Economic Zones in the year 2005.

          But through the executive powers under Article 123(1), you have changed the definition by providing unfettered discretionary authority to the Government, giving permission to any trust, any entity to start a unit in the SEZ and get the benefit of Special Economic Zone. What is the role of the Parliament? The Parliament, in the year 2005, has passed a law.  It is a comprehensive definition as far as the law is concerned.  Section 2(5) is a comprehensive definition.  That was the will of the people.  It was the law made by the Parliament.  On 2nd March, 2019, without taking the confidence of the Parliament, the Executive have brought a legislation through the route of an ordinance and changing the definition of a person and incorporating two terms ‘entity’ and `trust’. What is the intention behind it? What is the intention behind it?  By this change, the Executive have taken away the authority of the Parliament and by this Act, you are undermining the authority of the Parliament.  By this amendment, the sanctity and the very purpose of the definition is lost.  Whichever entity, in which the Government is interested, can have the SEZ benefit, which means SEZ benefit eligibility is according to the whims and fancies of the Government.  Then, what is the role of the Parliament.  It is absolutely undermining the authority of the Parliament which cannot be accepted.  That is why, I am strongly opposing the ordinance route of this legislation.

          Coming to the amendment.  Two words have to be incorporated in the definition person i.e. `trust’ and `entity’.  …(Interruptions).  I will quote the rule if you want. Sir, you may kindly see whether these words are defined in the original Act. There is no definition.  `Trust’ is not defined in the original Act and `entity’ is also not defined in that. What do you mean by `entity’? As per the dictionary, a thing with distinct and independent existence is an entity. That means anyone at the instance of the Government can be brought within the purview of `person’ as may be notified by the Government.  Suppose the Government is interested in a group of persons or association of persons, by this notification, he is eligible for the SEZ benefit. How can it be?  How can the Government be given such an unfettered right? I am again and again asking what is the role of the Parliament?

          Finally, I would like to ask the hon. Minister the urgency in issuing this ordinance. I reasonably have apprehensions that this ordinance is issued just to benefit some companies.  This has never happened in our Parliamentary democracy. …(Interruptions).   

माननीयसभापति: आपकेबादराइटटूरिप्लाईभीहै । आपबादमेंकहिएगा । यहछोटा-साबिलहै,केवल 2 घंटे का ।

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN : I have just started.  I am coming to the contents of the ordinance.  I am about to conclude. I am the mover of the statutory resolution.  Since the discussion is both on the bill and the ordinance, so I am entitled to speak on the Bill and the ordinance.  I will abide by your ruling.  I will conclude. Sir, what is the interest in having this legislation? Normally, the legislation begins when the society demands.  Here, what is the urgency and what is the demand which is being made by the society? I would also like to know how many entities or trusts are notified for the purpose of this Act since 2nd March, 2019 i.e. the date of issuance of the ordinance.  I would like to have specific answer from the Government, how many entities have been notified by the Government after promulgation of this ordinance?  That is why, I am opposing the Bill. 

Coming to the SEZ Act, as the hon. Minister has rightly said, the SEZ policy was issued in April, 2000 at the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji.  But the legislative recognition to the SEZ was given at the  time of Dr. Manmohan Singh Government in the year 2005 and the rules were also made in the year 2006.  For academic interest, I would like to state all the facts. The Government has targeted hundred million job creation and to achieve a 25 per cent of the GDP from manufacturing sector by 2022 and increase the manufacturing value to USD 1.2 trillion by 2025.       

          The policy was adopted in 2000 as a part of Exim Policy to promote export and propel the growth of GDP in the country.  In order to promote export and propel the growth of GDP, so many incentives/benefits were given. The import duty is exempted and one single-window clearance is there.  So many tax concessions and incentives are being given.

          I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether the Government could achieve this target with the experience of last 15 years.

Further, it is being reported that there is a vast gap between the land utilised and the land unutilised in the premises of SEZs and units across India.  It raises serious questions of land acquisition policy and directions towards these SEZs.

HON. CHAIRAPERSON : Now, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN: Sir, let me conclude.  The Mover of the Resolution is being restricted like this! HON. CHAIRPERSON:  You have already taken much time.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN: No, Sir I have taken just five to six minutes.

HON. CHAIRPERSON:  You have the right to reply also. Now, please conclude.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN:  Yes, Sir.

My second query is, how the Government going to address the issue of unutilised land of SEZs.

          With these questions and suggestions, once again, I would like to oppose the Ordinance route of legislation and the contents of the Bill.

          Thank you very much.

                                                                                     

श्रीराजीवप्रतापरूडी (सारण):माननीयसभापतिजी,आज Special Economic Zone (Amendment) Bill, 2019  विधेयकपेशहुआ It is to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. इसएक्टकेस्टेटमेंटऑफऑब्जेक्ट्सएंडरीज़न्समेंस्पष्टरूपसेदियागयाहैकि ‘person’ शब्दकेस्थानपर ‘trust or entity’ को इनक्लूडकरनाहै । ‘पर्सन’काडेफिनिशनइसमेंदियागयाहै, It say that “person” includes an individual, whether resident in India or outside India, a Hindu undivided family, co-operative society, so on and so forth.

          माननीयमंत्रीजीनेबहुतहीविस्तारसेइसकीपृष्ठभूमिबताई । वैसेतोहजारोंवर्षोंसेजिब्राल्टरकेमार्गयास्विसकैनालसेफ्रीट्रेडकाकांसेप्टरहाहै । लेकिनपूरेविश्वमेंपहलीबार 1959 में फ्रीज़ोनएस्टैब्लिशहुआथा, जोआयरलैंडकेशैनोनमेंहुआथा । 70 के दशकमेंईस्टएशिया, लैटिनअमेरिकामेंइसकाप्रभावक्षेत्रबढ़ा । उसकेबादकोरिया, मॉरिशस, ताईवान, चाइनामेंहुआ । चाइनानेतोइसमेंएक्सेलहीकरदिया । हमतबतकभारतमेंइसकीशुरुआतनहींकरपाएथे । इंटरनैशनललेबरऑर्गेनाइजेशनकीरिपोर्टहैकि 1986 तक पूरीदुनियामें, भारतमेंउससमयतकपूरीतरहसेइसकीशुरुआतनहींहुईथी, 176 ज़ोन्स कानिर्माण 47देशोंमेंहोचुकाथा । 2006 तक, जबयहकानूनबना, तबतकपूरीदुनियामेंऐसे 3500 ज़ोन्स बनादियेगयेथे, जोलगभग 130 देशों मेंबनाएगएथे । एकप्रकारसेहमथोड़ेलेटसेहीचलरहेथे, जबइसओरअभियानचला ।

          आजपूरीदुनियाकाग्लोबलएक्सपोर्टमेंजोअंशहै, वहलगभग 200 बिलियनडॉलरहै । यानीएकबिलियनडॉलरसातहजारकरोड़रुपयेहोताहै । आजपूरीदुनियाकेअनुपातमेंस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकज़ोन्सकाजोकंट्रीब्यूशनहै, वहलगभग 200 बिलियनयूएसडॉलरहैऔरइसमेंलगभग 40मिलियनलोगोंकोरोज़गारमिलताहै ।

          इसकीएकपूरीप्रक्रियाबनाईगईथी, to include ‘trust’ in the definition of “person”. भारतमेंजिसप्रकारसेस्वीकृतिदेनेकीप्रक्रियाहै,एकबोर्डऑफएप्रूवलहै,जिसकोकॉमर्ससेक्रेट्रीहेडकरतेहैं । वहाँआवेदनजाताहै । इसमेंराज्यसरकारोंकाभीयोगदानहै । केन्द्रसरकारउसकीनीतिबनातीहै । हमने ‘पर्सन्स’काडेफिनिशनबताया । भारतमें 1965 में कांडलापोर्टपरसबसेपहलाएक्सपोर्टप्रमोशनज़ोनबनायागया । वहहमारेलिएएक्सपेरिमेंटथा,हमारेलिएशुरुआतीदौरथा । गुजरातसेइसकीशुरुआतहुईथी । उससमयइसमेंमूलउद्देश्ययहथाकिपुरानीसरकारोंमेंजोबहुत-सेनियंत्रणथे,हमनेदेखाहै,वहगलतनहींथा,भारतवर्षमेंउससमयबहुतनियंत्रणथे । बहुतसारेक्लीयरेंसेसकेलिएकागजजमाकरनेपड़तेथे । हमाराउद्देश्यथाकिविदेशीनिवेशकोहमभारतमेंआकृष्टकरें ।

          वर्ष 2000 में इसकीपॉलिसीबनानेकीरूप-रेखातैयारहुई । जैसापीयूषजीबतायाकिउससमयएनडीएकीसरकारथी,अटलबिहारीवाजपेयीउससमयसरकारमेंथे । सौभाग्यसेमैं 18 साल पहलेउसविभागकामंत्रीथा । अबकाफीसमयनिकलगयाहै । हमारेएकमित्रयहांबैठतेहैं । वेआजयहांनहींहै,राजासाहबजहांबैठतेहैं । उससमयउनकेपिताजीमुरासोलीमारनभारतसरकारमेंकॉमर्समिनिस्टरथेऔरमैंउनकाछोटामंत्रीथा । मेरासौभाग्यरहाहैकिदेशकेतीनकॉमर्समिनिस्टर्सकेसाथकामकरनेकामुझेमौकामिला - जिनमेंएकमुरासोलीमारनथे,एकमाननीयअरुणजेटलीसाहबहैंऔरएकअरुणशोरीसाहबहैं । मैंउससमयछोटामंत्रीथा ।

डब्ल्यूटीओपरहस्ताक्षरकेसमयमैंमारनसाहबकेसाथगयाथा । उन्होंनेमुझेबहुतकुछसिखाया,मुझेआजभीयादहै । वेहमारीसरकार,एनडीएकेपार्टथेऔरउन्होंनेउससमयहमेंकाफीकुछसिखायाथा । इसकेसाथ-साथयहसिलसिलाचलतारहा । वर्ष 2005-06 तक कोईकानूननहींबना,इसलिएभारतकीजोफॉरेनट्रेडपॉलिसीथी,उसकेतहतहमलोगोंनेइनइकोनॉमिकज़ोन्सकीशुरुआतकीथी ।

          The main objectives were generation of additional economic activity, promotion of exports of goods and services, promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources, creation of employment opportunities, it was very important, along with the development of infrastructure facilities.  So, both foreign and domestic investments were allowed and that continues till date. Also, the role of the State Governments was also envisaged, जोराज्यसरकारोंनेकिया । एसईज़ेडमेंहमलोगोंनेएकप्रोसेसिंगएरियाचिह्नितकिया,जहांप्रोडक्शनकाकामहोगा,लेकिनवहहमेशाछोटाएरियाथाऔरउसकेसपोर्टमेंइंफ्रास्ट्रक्चरकेलिएनॉन-प्रोसेसिंगएरिया,जोबहुतबड़ाएरियाथा,उसमेंसपोर्टसर्विसेज़,स्कूल्स,मार्केटिंग,इम्प्लॉयेज़इत्यादिकाप्रावधानकिया । भारतमेंअपनेआपमेंयहयोजनाबहुतमहत्वपूर्णहै । उनकोइसकेएडवांटेजेज़भीदिएगए । उनकोड्यूटीफ्रीइंपोर्टकाएडवांटेजदियागया,इनकमटैक्ससे 100 परसेंटएग्ज़म्पशनकियागया,जीएसटीमेंआजकीतारीखमेंभीउनकोपूरेतौरपरएग्ज़म्पशनदियाजाताहै । राज्यसरकारोंनेभीअपने-अपनेतरीकेसेएडवांटेजेज़दिए । They have given a lot of exemptions to the SEZs. Each company or entity was allowed external commercial borrowings upto about $ 500 million and all with an effort to bring 100 per cent FDI.

          यहयोजनाबहुतहीअच्छीथी,लेकिनभारतमेंएकबातकीचिंतारही । 2005 केएक्टकेबादमहाराष्ट्रमेंमुंबईमेंसांताक्रूज़मेंएसईज़ेडबना,उसकेबादकोचिन,केरलमेंबना,सूरत,गुजरातमेंबना,चेन्नई,तमिलनाडुमेंबना,आपकेयहांस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकज़ोनबना,वाईज़ैग,जहांसेआंध्रप्रदेशकेहमारेमित्रहैं,वहांबना,उत्तरप्रदेशकेनोएडामेंहमारेमित्रहैं,वहांबना,मध्यप्रदेशकेइंदौरमेंबना । 5 लाख 7 हज़ार करोड़रुपयेकाजोनिवेशपूरेभारतवर्षमेंहुआ,वहइन्हींस्थानोंपरहुआ । दुर्भाग्यसेजोबाकी 20-22 राज्य हैं,वहांइसकीस्थापनानहींहोपाई ।

          माननीयमंत्रीजीहमारीनीतिमेंनिश्चितरूपसेराज्यसरकारेंमहत्वपूर्णहैं । उत्तरप्रदेश,जहां 22-23 करोड़ कीआबादीहो,अगरउत्तरप्रदेशअपनेआपमेंदुनियाकाएकदेशहोता,तोवहदुनियाकाछठासबसेबड़ादेशहोता । अगरआपकाउत्तरप्रदेशदुनियाकाछठासबसेबड़ादेशहोता,वहांभीदिल्लीकेबगलमेंनोएडामेंएकएसईज़ेडलगे,तोनीतिगततौरपरकहींनकहींकुछकमीरहीहै,जिसकेकारणइसकाविस्तारनहींहोपाया । यहझारखंडमेंनहींलगपाया । …(व्यवधान)

डॉ.निशिकांतदुबे(गोड्डा) :झारखंडमेंबहुतमाइन्स-मिनरल्सहैं । …(व्यवधान)

श्रीराजीवप्रतापरूडी :दुनियामेंअगरएकराज्यहै - जो पहलेबिहारकेसाथथा,जबबिहारऔरझारखंडएकथा - जहां सबसेज़्यादाखनिजसम्पदा,सबसेवैरायटीकीखनिजसम्पदाअगरधरतीपरदुनियामेंकहींहै,किसीएकछोटेसेक्षेत्रमेंहै,जहांयूरेनियमभीहै,थोरियमभीहै,माइकाभीहै,मैंगनीज़भीहै,कोलभीहै,गोल्डभीहै,तोवहझारखंडहै । …(व्यवधान)वहहमारेपुरानेबिहारकापार्टहोताथा । …(व्यवधान)

माननीयसभापति : निशिकांतजी भीबहुत कीमतीहैं, ऐसीबात नहींहै ।

…( व्यवधान)

श्रीराजीवप्रतापरूडी:अभी अर्जुनमुंडासाहबयहांथे,लेकिनचलेगए । वहांभीआजतककोईस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकज़ोननहींबनपाया । बिहारतोभगवानोंकीधरतीरहीहै,वहांभीस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकज़ोननहींबनपाया । हमारीचिंताहैकियहस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकज़ोनकीपॉलिसीबहुतशानदारहै,बहुतअच्छीहैऔरवर्ष 2005 के बादपहलीबारवर्ष 2019 में उसमेंसंशोधनकरनेकीआवश्यकताहुई । इसकामतलबइसपूरीनीतिसेदेशकोलाभहुआहै । हमइसकोस्वीकारतेहैं । वर्ष 2005-06 में जोएक्सपोर्टथा,वहलगभग 22 हज़ार करोड़रुपयेकाथा ।

येवर्ष 2016-17 के आंकड़ेहैं,बाकीमंत्रीजीबतादेंगे,वर्तमानमेंक्याहैं? 5 लाख 23हजारकरोड़रुपयेकाएक्सपोर्टआजएस.ई.जेड.सेहोरहाहै । मैंएकपत्रदिखानाचाहूंगा,क्योंकिसदनमेंइतिहासकेबहुतसारेपन्नेरखेजातेहैं । मैंएकबहुतहीइंट्रेस्टिंगपत्ररखनाचाहूंगा,वहमेरेपासथा । आजमैंनेअपनेसंचयीकरणसेउठाकरदेखा । पीयूषगोयलजीसेसंदर्भितपत्रहै । मैंजिनलोगोंकानामउल्लेखकररहाहूंवेसबसदनमेंहीहैं,इसलिएउसकीकोईआपत्तिनहींहोसकतीहै । 26 सितम्बर 2006, को भारतीयजनतापार्टीकेराष्ट्रीयअध्यक्षवैंकेयानायडूथे । येसंदर्भइसलिएहैकिमाननीयमंत्रीजीसिर्फस्मरणकराऊंगा,क्योंकिआपबहुतअच्छाकामकररहेहैंऔरआगेभीअच्छाकामकरें । उससमयहमारीराजनीतिकपार्टीकीतरफसेएककमेटीबनाईगयीथी,वैंकेयानायडूजीकायेपत्रहै । वेउसकेकन्वीनरथे,मैंउसकासदस्यथा । उसदिनएकऔरपत्रजारीहुआथा,जिसमेंपीयूषगोयलसाहबकॉमर्सऔरट्रेडसैलकेइंचार्जथे । जबयेकमेटीबनाईगई,येकॉमर्सऔरट्रेडसैलकेइंचार्जथे । इन्होंनेउससमयभीबहुतरिकमेण्डेशंसदीथींऔरयेपत्रबनायाथा । उसमेंआजभीआपकामेरेहस्ताक्षरसेनामलिखाहुआहै,जोमैंनेआपकोनिमंत्रणदियाथाकिआपआकरउसकोबताएं । आपनेबहुतअच्छाकियाहै । इसकेसाथ-साथमैंजिसविषयपरआनाचाहताहूं,पीयूषजीआपकेलिएभीबहुतसंदर्भितहैऔरसदनकेलिएभी,जोहमलोगोंकीरिकमेण्डेशनहै,लखनऊमेंएकराष्ट्रीयकार्यसमितिकीबैठकहुई,जिसकीरिपोर्टबनानेमेंपीयूषगोयलसाहबकासबसेबड़ायोगदानथा: ‘Report of the BJP Committee on Special Economic Zones’. उससमयराष्ट्रीयअध्यक्षवैंकेयानायडूजीथे । Number, size and location of SEZs के`बारेमेंचर्चाथी,रियलस्टेटकेएक्सप्लॉयटेशनकेबारेमेंचर्चाकीगयीथी । उसमें, Protection of productive land and interest of land-owning farmers and rural workers, के बारेमेंचर्चाथीऔरजितनेग्रामेटिकलएरर्सकरेक्टकरनेथे,वेसबमाननीयपीयूषगोयलनेउससमयकिए । It discussed about tax incentives and impact on revenue.  It is a very good document.  It also discussed about non-level playing field for business in DTA; interface between SEZs and DTA; SEZs and development of new townships; SEZs and IIT sector; and administrative weaknesses.  There is a reasonable balance. 

15.57 hrs    (Dr. (Prof.) Kirit Premjibhai Solanki in the Chair) महोदय,इसविषयकोमाननीयपीयूषगोयलसाहबकोबतानाचाहूंगा,क्योंकिआपइसमंत्रालयमेंहैं । समय-समयपरयहविषयउससमयभीहमनेउठायाथाऔरआजभीतमामविषयहैं,जिनकीचर्चामैंकरनेवालाहूं । येसंदर्भितहै,सभीकेलिएसंदर्भितहै । उसमेंहमारीसबसेइम्पोर्टेंटरिकमेण्डेशंसथीं,लगभगउन 60 प्रतिशतरिकमेण्डेशंसकोहमलोगोंनेपूराकियाहै । येबहुतहीरेडिकलरिकमेण्डेशंसथीं । इससदनकोसुननाहोगाऔरमैंसुनानाचाहूंगा । इसमेंसमरीऑफरिकमेण्डेशंसहैं,मैंएक-एकलाईनपढ़दूंगा । The minimum area of the processing zone should not exceed 35 per cent of the total land acquired.  No fertile and irrigated agricultural land should be acquired by the Government for SEZs. हमकिसानोंकीबाततबभीकरतेथेऔरआजभीकिसानोंकीबातकरतेहैं,यहहमारालक्ष्यहै । हमलोगइसपरअमलभीकररहेहैं । State Governments must prescribe minimum prices for land in various locations and categorise them.  This was done, of course.  Then we go ahead under ‘Summaries’.  Wherever feasible, farmers should be allotted equity shares in the developer companies. मुझेपतानहींहै,इसकोलागूकियागयाहैयानहीं । There should be an additional suitable financial compensation. The displaced farm labour and allied eligible worker should be given preference in employment in these SEZs.  There should be a plan for rehabilitation of the poor who would have got displaced. 

          All these visions which we had created are still a part of this.  If there are any lacunae anywhere, I am sure, after the amendment of this Act, you will administratively look into these issues.  Of course, there were many more recommendations in that.  An independent regulatory authority to deal with issues related to SEZs was suggested.

महोदय,मैंइसलिएयहविषयरखरहाहूंकिट्रस्टकोजोड़नेकेलिएकहागयाहै । हमेंसरकारपरपूराभरोसाहै । प्रेमचन्द्रनजीनेबीच-बीचमेंदो-तीनएप्रिहेंशनजाहिरकीहैंऔरएस्पर्शनभीकियाहै,जोअनुचितहै । हमारीसरकारअगरकभीभीकोईकदमउठातीहैतोवहदेशकेहितमेंहै,किसानोंकेहितमेंहै,मजदूरोंकेहितमेंहै । उससंकल्‍पकेसाथहमदेशकीसरकारकोलेकरचलरहेहैं । हमेंनहींपता,लेकिनपीयूषगोयलसाहबयहांबैठेहैं,येइसअमेण्डमेंटकोलाएहैंऔर 2005-06 के बाद, 18-19 साल केबादकोईअमेण्डमेंटलेकरआतेहैंतोयहदेशकेहितमेंहोगा ।

 

16.00 hrs हमेंअपनीसरकारपरविश्वासहै,हमेंअपनेदेशकेप्रधानमंत्रीपरविश्वासहैकिजोभीकदमउठायाजाएगावहदेशहितमेंहोगा,किसीव्यक्तियावयक्तियोंकेहितमेंनहींहोगा,यहहमारासंकल्पहै । भारतमेंअभीजोस्थितिहै,वर्ष 2019 में अभीतकजितनेफॉर्मलअप्रूवलआपनेदिएहैं,वे 416 एस.ई.जेडसकेहैं । जोनोटिफाइडहैं,वेलगभग 360 के आसपासहैं । इनप्रिंसिपल 32 हैं, यहसमझमेंनहींआया । आपलोगोंमेंसेहीनिकालकरलायाहूँऔरजोयूनिट्सअप्रूव्डहैं,अभीतकपूरेभारतवर्षमेंवेलगभग 5000 के आसपासहैं ।

महोदय,एकछोटीसीचिंताहै । मैंआपकेमाध्यमसेपीयूषजीसेभीआग्रहकरनाचाहूँगाकिइसमेंजमीनोंकाअधिग्रहणबहुतहुआ । कईप्रकारकेएस.ई.जेडसथे,आई.टी.एस.ई.जेडसथे,जोसीमितक्षेत्रमेंबनाएगए । उनकाभीभारतकेपूँजीनिवेशमेंऔरपूँजीबढ़ानेमेंबड़ायोगदानरहाहै । लेकिनजोबड़ीइन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चरइंडस्ट्रीज़थीं,कोरइंडस्ट्रीज़थीं,जिनकेलिएएस.ई.जेड.बनायागया,आपदेखेंगेकिवर्ष 2019 तक  ।औरयहीविषयहै,जिसपरमैंआपकोथोड़ासाध्यानआकृष्टकरूँगा । मुझेपताहैकिअपनीसरकारकेसंज्ञानमेंकोईविषयआएगातोउसेसरकारऐसेनहींछोड़ेगी । एकसांसदकेरूपमेंहमाराकर्तव्यहैकिहमअपनीसरकारकेहरनिर्णयकेसाथखड़ेरहें । लेकिनइसकेसाथ-साथहमारायहभीकर्तव्यहैकिसरकारकीव्यस्ततामेंअगरकोईविषयछूटजाताहै,कोईविषयवस्तुनहींआतीहै,तोउसेभीआपकेसंज्ञानमेंलानेकाहमप्रयासकरें । अभीतकपूरेभारतवर्षमेंआपकेजोआंकड़ेहैं,लगभग 47 हजार हेक्टेयरएस.ई.जेडसकेलिएजमीनअभीअधिसूचितहै,अधिग्रहितहै,नोटिफाइडहै,चाहेवहकेन्द्रसरकारकीतरफसेहो,याराज्यसरकारकीतरफसे । वहसभीराज्योंकाहैऔरउसमेंसेसिर्फसाढ़ेपाँच,होसकताहैमेरेआंकड़ेगलतहों,अगरगलतहोंतोअपनेअधिकारियोंसेपूछकरउसेसंशोधितकरदेंक्योंकिसंचिकाओंकाज्ञाननहोनेकेकारणमेरेपासअभीपूराज्ञाननहींहै । जोतथ्यपब्लिकडोमेनमेंहै,उसकेकारणमैंयहबतारहाहूँ ।

 

महोदय,येआंकड़ेकहींनकहींसरकारकेआंकड़ोंमेंसेहीनिकालेहैं,इसलिएअगरइसमेंकोईकमीहोतोउसकेसुधारकीपूरीगुंजाइशहै । मैंमाननीयमंत्रीजीसेकहूँगाकिइसमेंअगरकोईत्रुटिहोतोअभीपूछकरसुधारकरदें,ताकिलोगोंकेमनमेंयहबातनजाएकिहमनेकोईऐसाविषयरखाऔर 47-48 हजार हेक्टेयरभूमिजोअधिग्रहितकीगईपूरेभारतवर्षकीवहभीमूर्तरूपसेछ:यासातराज्योंमेंहीहुईहै । उसमेंसेसिर्फसाढ़ेपाँचहजारहेक्टेयरकाउपयोगहुआहै । अबयहथोड़ाचिन्ताकाविषयहोताहैकिआखिरकितनीलम्बीअवधितककिसानोंकीकितनीज़मीनकौनलेकरकहाँ-कहाँरखेगा? इसपरअगरकोईस्पष्टीकरणहो,औरमुझेविश्वासहैकिजोभीविषयहमारेमाननीयसदस्यसंज्ञानमेंलातेहैं,उसकोहमलोगयहाँपरलाकररखतेहैंऔरमैंनेउसीसंदर्भमेंरखाहै ।

पीयूषगोयलसाहब,जोआजदोबड़ेमंत्रालयोंकेमंत्रीहैं,इससेपूर्ववित्तविभागकाकार्यभीइन्होंनेसंभालाहै । येआगेभीबड़े-बड़ेकार्यसंभालतेरहेंगे । आपनेट्रस्टकोलानेकाजो संशोधनकियाहैहमबहुतज्ञाननहींरखतेहैंइनविषयोंकेबारेमें । तकनीकीरूपसेआपचार्टर्डअकाउंटेंटहैं । आपउसमहकमेसेआतेहैंऔरमुझेइसबातकीखुशीइसलिएभीहोरहीहै,क्योंकिआजजिसकुर्सीपरआपबैठेहैं,आजसे 18 साल पहलेजबहमइसतरफबैठतेथेतोउससमयआपकेपिताजीभीभारतसरकारमेंमंत्रीथे । एकलंबाइतिहासहै । मेरीउम्रचाहेजोभीहो,परमेरेसाथएकखासियतयहहैकिकमसेकम 50 ऐसे सांसदइससदनमेंहैं,जिनकेपिताजीमेरेसाथसांसदरहेथे । उसप्रकारसेमेरीसीनियॉरिटीबहुतहै । चाहेयेरननायडूसाहबहोंयाअगाथाकेपिताजीहों,संजयजायसवालजीकेपिताजीहों,मनीषतिवारीजीकेपिताजीकेसमकक्षहों,याओवैसीजीकेपिताजीहों । मैंजैसेहीनज़रघुमाऊँगातोमुझेबहुतसारेऐसेलोगदिखजाएंगे । मेराकार्यकालबहुतलम्बारहाहै । आखिरमेंमैंरिटायरमेंटपरनहींजारहाहूँ,लेकिनयहजरूरकहनाचाहूँगाकिइनकेपिताजीभीउससमयदोपदहोल्डकरतेथेहमारीपार्टीमेंऔरसरकारमें । आजपीयूषगोयलसाहबभीमंत्रीकेरूपमेंहोल्डकररहेहैं । यहएकसंयोगहीहैकिआजभीहमारेबीचमेंवैसेहीसांसदमौजूदहैं । पीयूषजीकाजोवर्किंगस्टाइलहै,रेलवेमंत्रालयमेंपीयूषजीहमेशाउपलब्धरहतेहैं । अगरहमारेप्रेमचन्द्रनजीकोकोईशंकाहै,तोअवश्यउनकानिराकरणकीजिए । आपकेइसबिलमें,जोसंशोधनदेशकेहितमेंहै,ट्रस्टहोयाएंटिटीहो,यहहमाराकामहै । जबसदनमेंएक्टबनायाजाताहैतोउसकेअधीनस्थकानूनबनाएजातेहैं,रूल्सबनाएजातेहैं ।

जबरूल्सबनाएजाएंगे …(व्यवधान)संवैधानिकप्रक्रियाकेतहतहमएक्टबनातेहैं । एक्टबनानेमें,बाहरकेलोगभलेहीजोसमझतेहों,लेकिनहरविषयपरप्रेमचन्द्रनजी,चौधरीसाहब,संजयजायसवालजीऔरहमारेमित्रसुशीलजी,हमलोगएक्टकेएक-एकशब्दकोपढ़तेहैंऔरविश्लेषणकरतेहैं । सरकारउसकेबादरूल्सबनातीहैऔररूल्सपरभीहमलोगतीनस्थानोंपरचर्चाकरतेहैं । एकतोपार्लियामेंटमेंकरतेहैं,उसकेबादरूल्सकमेटीमेंकरतेहैं,उसकेबादभीसहमतिनबनेतोहाईकोर्टमेंजातेहैं । हमेंसरकारकेहरसंशोधनपरभरोसाहै,हरनियमपरभरोसाहै । इसविश्वासकेसाथकिस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनदेशमेंरोजगारउत्पन्नकरनेऔरविदेशसेनिवेशलानेमेंएकप्रशस्तमार्गसाबितहोगा,मैंअपनीतरफसेसरकारकेइसअमेंडमेंटकासमर्थनकरताहूंऔरआशाकरताहूंकिपूरासदनभीइसकोसमर्थनदेगा । धन्यवाद ।

   

DR. SHASHI THAROOR (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I am sorry to say that I join my learned colleague, Shri N.K. Premachandran in regretting that the Government has been abusing the legislative process, especially, the Ordinance route to push through its political agenda.

For us as lawmakers, we have two prime tests to keep in mind while legislating. First, we must see whether a Bill or an Ordinance has enough merit to be enacted. Second, we must see whether proper procedure and process has been adopted in order to meet the standards of procedural fairness. Analysing the merits of a Bill is distinct and separate from analysing an Ordinance due to this very reason but you are obliging us to combine both, and I will do so.

It is very much possible for a Bill to be labelled as welcome while at the same time, as an Ordinance it is bad in law. Unfortunately, this norm is often missing from our deliberations in Parliament. None of us is saying we do not need Ordinances but the manner in which we exercise Ordinance-making is something we need to be conscious about and cautious about as well. Even prior to the adoption of the Constitution, we had experienced the abuse of Ordinances under the Government of India Act, 1935 when the British Viceroy could promulgate Ordinances, whenever he felt it necessary and the Legislature could not maintain a check on him. That is why, when article 123 of the Constitution was framed, it had limited the powers of Ordinance in order to prevent the growth of a legislative authority parallel to the Parliament.

As per article 123, an Ordinance can only be promulgated once the President is satisfied that there exist emergency circumstances which render it necessary for immediate action. In fact, when this provision was being debated in the Constituent Assembly, Members did raise the same fears of misuse that Mr. Premachandran  and I have done today, and Dr. Ambedkar replied assuaging the fears of the Members by saying that the Ordinance power can only be invoked when emergency situations, “suddenly and immediately arise” when the Parliament is not in Session.

Even one of the most important senior former Members of the previous Government, Shri Arun Jaitley, when he was the Leader of the Opposition, said, and I quote: “An Ordinance under article 123 is only issued when issues of extreme urgency arise and cannot await a forthcoming Parliament Session.” The matter must be of such urgency between the date of issuance of the Ordinance and the date of the Parliament Session that it is difficult to wait for that period. We need to ask ourselves as to whether we have met the constitutional standards required under article 123.

The Supreme Court had also clarified in the landmark R.C. Cooper case that while an Ordinance may be in the name of the President, it is really an action of the Executive. The court, however, cannot inquire into the nature of the advice given by the Council of Ministers to the Prime Minister or to the President, and therefore, it is our duty as MPs to ensure that the advice required or given to promulgate an Ordinance is a sound one. Dr. Ambedkar was optimistic in his hope that this Parliament will act as a robust check on the Executive. I am sorry to say that we have failed to do so, especially due to the lack of respect this Government has and its predecessor Government has for this august House.

I am afraid the preamble to the Ordinance fails to mention any cogent reason for this urgent emergency action. The Minister must give an explanation of the exact nature of the emergency which arose between the date of the Ordinance, 2nd March, and the 17th June, 2019 when our Parliament Session commenced, for which an Ordinance was emergently necessary, the materials relied upon to show that the situation was urgent and how it reached the threshold that Dr. Ambedkar had asked us to follow in the Constitution.

          The Minister must also list the steps taken in pursuance of this Ordinance during this period. If the Prime Minister truly believes in the idea that this Parliament is a temple of democracy, then he should explain the reasons before this House rather than treating this House as a mere rubber stamp for the Government’s political agenda.

          The Ordinance process as envisaged by our founding fathers and mothers was intended to enhance the constitutional process. I regret to note that instead the Government is using these powers to bypass and subvert the constitutional process. Last week, all of us just took an oath, to serve, to protect, to defend the Constitution of India. If we fail to insist on these constitutionally mandated procedures, then we would be failing in our oath to protect the Constitution. 

          Mr. Chairman, I would now like to turn my attention to the Bill itself since you are combining both. The hon. Minister gave us a lengthy history of the idea of SEZs coming up during the Vajpayee era but he failed to mention that Special Economic Zones received statutory recognition only with the passing of SEZ Act in 2005. …(Interruptions)

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I mentioned it.

DR. SHASHI THAROOR: You mentioned when it was started. …(Interruptions) But, if you have mentioned that it was due to the economic vision of the former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, I somehow missed that.…(Interruptions)

          But let me just say that new India should start giving credit to old India also once in a while. He realized the need to have special zones with tax incentives …(Interruptions)

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: The hon. Member was reading some text, otherwise I think he would have heard what I had said. …(Interruptions)

DR. SHASHI THAROOR: Okay, I genuinely missed that. …(Interruptions) I did not hear the word ‘Dr. Manmohan Singh’. But if you said it, I am very pleased. …(Interruptions)

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I think the issue is not about who the Prime Minister was, I gave credit to all of them. But if they do not want the credit and only want Dr. Manmohan Singh to have it, I am happy to say that Congress had no role in it but Dr. Manmohan Singh. …(Interruptions)

DR. SHASHI THAROOR: Honestly, the hon. Minister should really say things worthy of his stature. …(Interruptions)

          But our Prime Minister just told us how important it is to recognize the names of leaders who deserve credit. The former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh had an economic vision and he said that the idea was to have Special Economic Zones with tax incentives to boost manufacturing, exports and generate employment.

          Unfortunately, we are yet to realize the vision of the SEZ Act of 2005 under the present Government. It is disappointing to note that we are far from the target of creating a hundred million new jobs. Unemployment has now reached the highest rate in nearly 45 years. During the UPA-II, even when the world was suffering from recession, our exports increased by 126 per cent under Dr. Manmohan Singh. But in the last 5 years, our exports have barely increased by 10 per cent.

          In fact, in 2017 this Government notified Parliament that half the land notified for SEZ was lying vacant, that is, 45,711.64 hectares of land, which had been notified for SEZs was lying vacant. We have also been told by the Government in answers to Parliamentary questions that 150 SEZs are non-operational. I would appreciate the hon. Minister if he can provide the Parliament in his reply with the latest figures on how many SEZ units are lying vacant. The Minister could also inform the House as to whether a comprehensive review of SEZ has been conducted. If so, what are the structural reforms which this Government would undertake to ensure the maximum utilization of SEZs?

          Hon. Minister, I am sorry, I was addressing the questions to you. Have you conducted a review and what structural reforms will you undertake? If a review has not been undertaken, will you undertake one in a time-bound manner so that we know on what basis this policy is advancing?

          We also know that some SEZs are stuck due to litigations, cases stuck in court. We are all aware how long it takes our courts to dispose of cases pending before them. The delay of justice is truly a denial of justice. But we cannot always blame the judges for the delays because they are extremely overburdened. Therefore, we need to boost funds allotted to the courts, set up additional facilities, undertake judicial reforms or create special courts in the SEZ before SEZs can truly become an effective tool for economic growth.

          Now, the question of the land being a State Subject has been mentioned, but the Centre can easily take the initiative to coordinate with the States to frame uniform SEZ policy to set up single window for clearances and to facilitate the smooth inflow of investment and capital.              

          The ruling party cannot shy away from this responsibility, given their large mandate, and half the States of the country and the Union Territories are also directly under the Central Government. So, there is nothing preventing them from actually initiating SEZs there.

          The Bill is empowering the Government to notify any entity as a person to be eligible for the benefits under the SEZ Act by amending clause (v) of Section 2 of the SEZ Act, 2005. It means that you want to include trusts for example under this definition in the Bill, but can the hon. Minister give us examples of such entities or trusts which may have availed of this provision under the Ordinance? Can he also give us other examples of the kinds of entities he has in mind which ought to be included in the definition of a person, apart from those specified? The Bill, by delegating large powers to the Government to notify who may qualify for benefits under the Act, can also increase the scope for misuse of the law to benefit select individuals, as Mr. Premachandran has alleged.

          As I said, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. While I do not doubt the good intentions of the hon. Minister, I would appreciate if he can explain to us how and why the extant of legislative powers must be delegated to the Executive and how it will not be misused. We have already heard the accusations of land grab under the guise of SEZ activity. The SEZs do have the potential for being the driving engines of our economy. At a time when we are underperforming as an economy, it is time for us to fulfil their potential. I want to stress that, as I said, it is possible to disapprove of an Ordinance without disapproving the Bill that follows. My queries are raised in that spirit, Mr. Minister.

I wish to stress that we, in the Congress, are proud of India’s economic growth and we will not stand in the way of anything that may help advance our country’s economic growth, but I would urge the Government to do the right thing in the right way. In other words, they should stop resorting to Ordinances, and bring Bills for the consideration of and debate in this Parliament.

Jai Hind.

 

SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY (KOLKATA UTTAR): Sir, while rising to take part in the debate on the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019, I initiate my speech by saying that generally we oppose any type of Ordinance unless it was very urgently needed. What I find is that this Government is in the habit of projecting every small idea as a very big idea. Regarding the introduction of SEZs and when they were introduced, on the one side Shri Piyush Goyal and on the other side Dr. Shashi Tharoor have explained, but the fact is that SEZs could not rise to the occasion. The process of SEZ and the system of SEZ which was installed has proved to be a miserable failure. In a country like ours, SEZs are located in India mainly at Santa Cruz in Maharashtra, Cochin in Kerala, Kandla and Surat in Gujarat, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Falta in our State of West Bengal, Noida in UP and Indore in Madhya Pradesh which is ready for operation.

          The first SEZ was set up in Kandla in 1965 which Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy has mentioned. Shri Premachandran explained elaborately why he is opposing the Ordinance preceding the Bill. I want to know a thing from the hon. Minister. It was a decision which was adopted in the Cabinet chaired by the hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to replace the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 proposes an amendment of sub-section (v) of Section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.

          Sir, what I would like to draw the attention of the Government is towards making the SEZs more successful. In June, 2018, just one year before, Baba Kalyani, Chairman of Bharat Forge, from Pune, placed a 21-point report. I expected that the Hon. Minister will throw light on that.  But it was kept under dark.  I am interested to know as to how many observations this Government has accepted out of these 21 observations to implement the SEZ ideas and turn them into a better prospect.

          Those who take part in the SEZ schemes receive so many facilities at zero tax.  There is no taxation at any stage, neither from Central side, nor even from the State side.  It also gets a coverage of the Customs because those items which are produced in the SEZ sectors are not for the sale in the Indian markets. Those will be directly exported.  But what happens many times, the reason why Trinamool Congress totally opposes the idea of implementation of SEZ projects, is that these items, in many stages, come out into the open market and are sold at their original prices.

          So, this type of corruption takes place in the SEZ schemes and ideas. Tamil Nadu has gone far way so far as SEZ projects are concerned. They are at the peak. But in many cases, in case of other States, what we feel is that SEZ projects are not coming up in a manner which was expected to be so.

          We also oppose it because there is a relation between SEZ and land acquisition. Land acquisition is made forcefully.  In Karnataka, a few days back, the situation was like a war-race. We opposed from the very beginning any forceful occupancy of land. In China, SEZ projects are normally made on non-agricultural land.  But in India, it is not like that. In India, agricultural lands are used for SEZ projects.

          So, my question is, by forceful occupancy of land from the farmers, by not providing the actual price of the land, how and what for the Government is proceeding with these SEZ projects or make it a success? 

          Many facilities are allotted to the SEZ projects. While initiating the deliberation, Piyush Goyal ji can say many more things as to what the real ideas are to make India’s products acceptable in the international market. But these small sectors of SEZ cannot give more strength to the Indian economy.

          So, the way the SEZ idea is being introduced, the total theme and the impetus being given to this project is nothing but befooling the people.       

   

                This Government having the majority thinks of befooling people; they think that they can make anything to ensure success, and ensure everything in their favour. But as far as our Trinamool Congress Party is concerned, we totally oppose the idea of expansion of SEZ projects in India. Thank you.

   

SHRI DNV. SENTHILKUMAR S. (DHARMAPURI): Vanakkam,  hon. Chairman, Sir. This is my maiden speech.

I represent the State, `the pride of Dravidam’, juxtaposed by Valluvar Kottam in the north to the 133 feet tall statue of the great Tamil poet, Thiruvalluvar in the south. The State that is nurtured by Periyar’s ideologies, Perarignar Anna’s principles, social reformer and visionary, the great leader, Kalaignar and our leader, Thalapathi, Thiru Stalin, who is the personification of the three leaders.

Change is the beauty of our India's democracy, and  we salute and respect the people’s mandate for the 17th  Lok Sabha. I would also like to remind that the DMK coalition in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has won 38 out of the 39 seats contested. Victory being credited to our coalition partners and the unmatched and unparallel hard work of our leader,  Thlapathi Thiru Stalin. I would also like to reiterate that all 23 Members of the DMK Party are rooted by its ideologies & principles.

 It was during the NDA regime, the then Commerce Minister, late Murasoli Maran, who was actively involved in the concept of Special Economic Zones, along with the then Communication Minister, ThiruDayanidhi Maran, that the renowned firms like Nokia, Foxconn were established in Chennai. Roots of development and socio-economic growth were thought, processed, implemented and developed by the Congress regime, in which the DMK was a part of. The present ruling party enjoys the fruits of our hard earned toil and labour.

Sir, I would like to know from the hon. Minister why the urgency in passing the Bill through an Ordinance, as the amendment doesn't seem to raise any urgency or of any grave importance. The insertion of the words "Trust or any Entity notified by the Central Government" raises suspicion as in what manner will the new inserted terms of trust and entity bring about the desired changes in the SEZs Act where foreign firms are given special status, land and other requirements and facilities at concessional rates. Since Trusts are  non-profitable organisations, a large chunk of Trusts run by Christian, Muslim & Minority organisations have been shut down. The purpose of inclusion of this term by an Amendment, and especially through an Ordinance raises many questions about the intent of the Amendment. There are many suspicious clouds to infer.

This Government has a hidden agenda to help known people by incorporating trust in the amendment Bill. I fear Mr. Speaker Sir that this amendment is being introduced to favour a selected few who enjoy close proximity to the Government. Many traders are interested in SEZ so that they can acquire land at cheap rates and create a land bank for themselves. Hence, the whole purpose and objective of the project should not be diluted by vested interests. Not all models of SEZ implemented had given successful results. Nanguneri SEZ· in' Tirunelveli constituency has not taken off and not yielded the desired benefits, and a lot more is to be done. Emphasis is to be given to promote demand driven approach instead of supply driven. An amendment to spare the agricultural land is what is the need of the hour.

Emphasis should be given on integration of MSMEs with Employment & Economic Enclaves. Co-operation between the State Government and the companies functioning in SEZ has to be cordial for the successful functioning of the Economic Zones. An apt example would be the closure of established firms like Nokia and Foxconn due to the non-co-operation of the ADMK regime in Tamil Nadu. Lack of support from the State Government for an effective single window clearance system is a major challenge faced by SEZs. A State that was hailed as "Detroit of South" due to all major auto manufacturers setting up industries in Tamil Nadu during Kalaingar's regime has now lost the opportunity of bringing more major auto manufacturing companies and other industries, and now they are shifting to neighbouring States.

          As the Ease of Doing Business with the present State Government has been proved futile, I would like to suggest to undo the procedural delays, infrastructural bottlenecks, uncertainty in government policies, especially tax for smooth and successful functioning of SEZs. Hence, I request the hon. Commerce Minister through the Chair to allay my fears on bringing about this Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill.

          I would also like to bring the focus on the plight of labourers working in the SEZs. They are not covered under the labour laws that are applicable to the whole of India. While emphasis and concessions are given to the factories and firms, the labourers are denied their rights to form a trade union or enhance their bargaining capacity for the job they are entitled to.

          Sir, I would also like to ask the hon. Commerce Minister through you to set up an SEZ in my constituency of Dharmapuri which is one of the most backward districts in my State. The educated youth have no source of employment in my district as there are absolutely no factories or companies. In my constituency, Dharmapuri, the percentage of students seeking admission in undergraduate colleges after schooling is the highest as compared to the State and national percentage. The gross percentage of Dharmapuri is 98.4 whereas the average percentage of Tamil Nadu is 48.6 and all-India percentage is 25.8.

A majority of our rural students have been denied the opportunity of joining medical courses as they are not able to spend a huge amount for NEET coaching due to their economic status and the examination being based on CBSE while their mode of teaching has been equity education by the State. So, majority of the educated youth is seeking jobs outside the State.

I was astonished to find a majority of people from my constituency inside and outside Parliament in Delhi. Unemployment being a major issue, decline in agricultural yield due to acute water shortage and not releasing Cauvery water as per the Cauvery Tribunal’s order has deprived my constituency of an active participation in the developmental growth. Around ten tribal villages in the hillocks of Sittling, Chitheri & Kalasapadu have been deprived of basic road facilities. They have access to their own village by paths of mud and rocks laid by themselves. Many lives have been lost as ambulance and other emergency services do not reach the village due to lack of roads. It is a pity that we have inaccessible villages even after seventy years of Independence.

I pray to you, Sir, that the Government should bring happiness to families and lighten the lives of lakhs of skilled and talented youth who would be grateful and thankful to the Government if they establish an SEZ in Dharmapuri. I would like to quote a couplet from Thirukkural under “Duty to Society”.

“Payavmaram Ullurp Pazhathatral Selvam Nayanudaiyan Kanpadin”           “The wealth possessed by a man of virtue and benevolence is like a fruit bearing tree in the midst of a hamlet with fruits of benefits shared by all.”   SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH (KAKINADA): Thank you, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to participate in the discussion on Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill in this august House.

          First of all, this is my maiden speech in this august House. I take this opportunity to thank my YSR Congress Party Chief and hon. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy Garu. I also convey my thanks to Shri P. V. Midhun Reddy Garu.

          Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister to the plight of suffering farmers in the Kakinada Special Economic Zone. In this august House, this is my first speech and I would like to speak in my Mother Tongue, Telugu.

          *....* In this context, I would like to bring to the notice of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Minister, the distress that is being suffered by farmers in my constituency. This is a small amendment Bill, which has been already brought through ordinance. Before I welcome this amendment, I would like to highlight issues of farmers. Just now, hon. Member Rudy said that in India out of 45,000 acres earmarked for SEZs, industries couldn’t be set up in even 5000 acres. Honourable Minister, Kakinada SEZ has 10,500 acres of land which was allotted in 2005, even after 14 years of approving SEZ, not even a single industry could be set up. Farmers are in tears like orphans. Land is visible but they cannot cultivate. Agricultural labourers can see vacant land but they don’t  have work. Farmers feed our country and are backbone of our economy.

 

          150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, will be celebrated soon, Gram Swarajya is something where Gandhiji believed that whole nation lives in villages. But unfortunately farmers and villages in our country are in severe distress. Sir, even after 14 years of approving SEZ, farmers are not getting livelihood. Farmers feed us, but there is no one to feed them. No one is taking care of their issues. For last 14 years, farmers are agitating. I am part of their agitation for the last ten years, but none are concerned about farmers interests. In last 5 years, I ensured that not a single care was filed against agitating farmers. But Sir, I am ashamed of the fact that some farmers were jailed in Central Jails in the last 5 years. It is unfortunate, that previous Government didn’t hesitate to jail farmers.

          When we call farmers as food providers, and back bone of our country, we should see that their back bone is not broken. Sir, as per law enacted in 2013, if SEZs cannot make use of land in stipulated time, the lands can be taken back. Whereever SEZs are not yet functional and whereever fertile lands were acquired for SEZs, those lands should be taken back and handed over to farmers. I request the honourable Minister to see that such actions are taken.

          Honourable Chairman Sir, farmers approached courts and filed cases in this regard. Though some Land could be brought back, in remaining land, not even a single industry could be set up. I request Honourable Minister to take cognizance of this situation. When Government is extending so many incentives, why no industry have been set up? There are tax exemptions and land acquisitions, but still nothing has come up in these SEZs.

          In 2005, these lands were acquired at the cost of Rs. 3 lakh per acre and now these are being sold at Rs. 50 lakh per acre. Who is benefitting from these initiatives? Minister Sir, farmers children are not getting matrimonial alliances. Their lands are in courts and they are in Police Stations and jails. In these 10,500 acres, there are villages. Temples were destroyed, Community halls and schools were demolished. In these ruins, farmers are leading their lives. This is a serious problem. As SEZs are not completely vacated, there are villages on these lands and people are facing so many problems. They don’t have any roads or buses. They don’t have basic facilities.

          In this context, I am bringing these issues to the attention of the Honourable Minister. Sir, there is a need for inquiry on each and every Special Economic Zone. Honourable Minister referred to special initiatives to boost investments and development. What is development? Is it ruining farmers?  Is it harassing farmers and their families? Who is gaining and who is losing? There is a need to understand these issues and resolve these problems. There is a need to look beyond land acquisition. How the people and farmers living on those lands are affected should also be looked into.

          Sir, I represent Kakinada constituency where Kakinada SEZ is located. On behalf of victims of SEZ of my constituency, I will highlight their problems. I need to protect their interests and boost their confidence. In feel that I am fortunate to highlight farmers issues in my maiden speech.

          Honourable Chairman Sir, I would like to highlight another issue of unemployment for youth. As per information I have there are 423 SEZs approved in our country which is subject to correction. Who is benefitting from these SEZs. Please inquire about Kakinada SEZ where no job could be created till date. In the name of development and employment opportunities to youth through SEZs, lands are being acquired, which is not right.

          Therefore, I request you to pay special attention to this issue. SEZs are important for our economy but at the same time interests of farmers and people living in those areas are also equally important. There should be ample employment opportunities from these SEZs. Problems of farmers of Kakinada SEZs should be dealt with properly. And after resolving these issues only there should be development in these SEZs. Farmers should be happy and satisfied. And we should address their problems appropriately. With these words, I conclude. Thank you.*         श्रीविनायकभाऊरावराऊत (रत्नागिरी-सिंधुदुर्ग): सभापतिमहोदय, विशेषआर्थिकजोन (संशोधन) विधेयकजोआयाहै, मैंउसकासमर्थनकरनेकेलिएखड़ाहूं । मैंमाननीयमंत्रीजीकोधन्यवाददूंगाकिवर्ष 2005 के बादएकअत्यावश्यकभावऐसाहैकिइसमेंसुधारकरनेकीजरूरतथी, संशोधनकरनेकीजरूरतथी । आपसंशोधनकरकेफिरएकबारबिलयहांलाएहैं ।

          महोदय, आजहमारेदेशकेसामनेसबसेबड़ीसमस्यारोजगारकीहै । भारीसंख्यामेंबेरोजगारीबढ़तीजारहीहै । लोगों, युवा-जवानोंकेहाथोंकेलिएजोकामचाहिए, आजउसकीउपलब्धतानहींहै । मुंबईमेंएकबारटेक्सटाइलइंडस्ट्रीसबसेबड़ीइंडस्ट्रीथी । लाखोंकीसंख्यामेंवर्कर्सवहांकामकरतेथे, लेकिनदुर्भाग्यसेटेक्सटाइलइंडस्ट्रीबंदहोगईऔरलाखोंघरोंकेदु:खसामनेआगए । मुंबईमेंऐसीकईबड़ीकंपनीज, जैसेप्रीमियर, कमानीवगैरहथीं । हमारेश्रीरंगबारणेजीजिसक्षेत्रसेप्रतिनिधित्वकरतेहैं, वहांभीएकबहुतबड़ाइंडस्ट्रियलजोनहै, लेकिनहरवर्षकोईनकोईकंपनीबंदहोजातीहै । उसकाव्यवहारबंदहोजाताहै । हालांकिजैसे 4 महीनेपहलेजेटएयरवेजबंदहुई, तो 10से 12हजारवर्कर्सरास्तेपरआगए । उनकाभविष्यअंधेरेमेंछागया । ऐसेवक्तमेंखासकरइसदेशमेंरोजगारकीनिर्मितिकैसेहोसकतीहै । स्वयंरोजगारकीतरफचलें, ऐसाहमबोलतेहैं, लेकिनलोगजानेकेलिएतैयारनहींहोतेहैं । जोभीग्रेजुएटहोतेहैं, उनमेंसारेकेसारेलोगोंकोनौकरीमिलनीहीचाहिए, ऐसीउनकीअपेक्षारहतीहै ।            

नौकरीकीउपलब्धताकैसेकरासकतेहैं,इसलिएऐसेइकोनोमिकजोनतैयारकरकेआनेवालेजोउद्योगहै,आनेवालीजोइंडस्ट्रीहै,उन्हेंसंरक्षणदेनेकीजरूरतहै,उन्हेफैसिलिटीदेनेकीजरूरतहै । आजदुर्भाग्यसेमहाराष्ट्रमेंज्यादासेज्यादाउद्योगक्योंनहींआते । पूरेदेशमेंसबसेज्यादाटैक्समहाराष्ट्रस्टेटमेंहै । पानीकाबिलमहंगा,इलेक्ट्रिसिटीकाबिलमहंगाऔरबाकीकेटैक्सेजभीसीमापारकरतेहैं । कोईभीइंडस्ट्रीकोआनेनहींदेतेहैं,येगुजरातयागोवामेंजातेहैं । स्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनतैयारहोताहैतोउन्हें कईतरहकीफैसिलिटीजदीजातीहै । जोभीउद्योगलगानेवालेलोगहैं,जोभीउद्योगपतिहैं,उनकोसुविधामिलनीचाहिए । शिवसेनाहिन्दूहृदयसम्राटबालासाहेबठाकरेहमेशाबोलतेथेकिजैसेवर्कर्सकेसाथहमलोगरहतेहैं,वैसेहीउद्योगपतियोंकोभीसंरक्षणदेनेकीजरूरतहै । एकउद्योगपतिकेमाध्यमसेएकहजारलोगोंकोरोजगारमिलताहैऔरएकहजारपरिवारोंकासंरक्षणहोताहै । आजमंत्रीमहोदयनेबिललाकरइसमेंएकसुलभताकानिर्माणकियाहै,इसलिएमैंइनकोधन्यवाददेताहूं ।

मैंएकविनतीकरनाचाहताहूं,स्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनकालोगविरोधक्योंकरतेहैं?जहांअच्छीखेतीहोतीहै,जहांफलकाउत्पादनहोताहै,दुर्भाग्यसेवहांस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोननहींहोनाचाहिए । वहांकीभूमिकाअधिग्रहणनहींहोनाचाहिए । अगरवहांएसईजेडकीजातीहैतोलोगरास्तेपरउतरतेहैं,आंदोलनकरतेहै । उनकेआंदोलनकोदेखकरइकोनॉमिकजोनकाजोऑर्डिनेसहैयागजेटहै,उसेवापसलेनापड़ताहै । जहांअन्नउत्पादकभूमिहै,जहांबैरनलैंडहैवहांआपज्यादासेज्यादास्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोनतैयारकरें । चाहेदेशीउद्योगपतिहोंयापरदेशसेआनेवालेउद्योगपतिहों,उनकास्वागतइसदेशमेंहोनाचाहिए ।

          माननीयप्रधानमंत्रीनरेन्द्रमोदीजीकेइसकार्यकालमेंएफडीआईकाजोकन्सेपटआया,उससेऐसाहुआकिअबज्यादासेज्यादापरदेशीउद्योपतियोंकोलगताहैकिअपनेदेशमेंएकअच्छावातावरणतैयारहोरहाहै । दुर्भाग्यसेइंडस्ट्रीबंदक्योंहोतीहै?हमारेदेशमेंयूनियनबाजीज्यादाहोतीहै । यूनियनकेमाध्यमसेआंदोलनकरेंयाडिमांडरखें,इंडस्ट्रीबंदकरे,एकऐसाभीवक्तथा । सौभाग्यसेअबयहकमहोचुकाहै । हमसभीलोगचाहतेहैंकिदेशमेंउद्योगआएं । हमसभीचाहतेहैंकिसरकारकोऐसेउद्योगोंकोसहूलियतेंदेनीचाहिए,ज्यादासेज्यादाअच्छाइन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चरतैयारकरनाचाहिए । टैक्सएक्जम्पशन,जैसेसेल्सटैक्सहो,इनकमटैक्सहो,प्रोफेशनटैक्सहोया वैटहो । टैक्सेशनमेंज्यादासेज्यादासहूलियतेंदेकरदेशमेंआनेवालेउद्योगोंकास्वागतकरनाचाहिए । यहसंशोधनविधेयकभविष्यकेलिएअच्छाहोगाऔरभारतकेउद्योगक्षेत्रमेंभीएकनयापरिवर्तनहोगा,ऐसीमेरीधारणाहै । मैंएकबारफिरमंत्रीमहोदयकाअभिनंदनकरताहूंऔरइसबिलकासमर्थनकरताहूं । धन्यवाद । 

 

श्रीकौशलेन्द्रकुमार (नालंदा): सभापतिमहोदय,मैं (विशेष आर्थिकजोन)संशोधनविधेयक, 2019 के पक्षमेंबोलनेकेलिएखड़ाहुआहूं । पिछलीएनडीएसरकारइससंशोधनपरअध्यादेशलाचुकीहै,अबइसेकानूनबनानेपरचर्चाकररहीहै । विशेषआर्थिकक्षेत्रअधिनियम 2005 की धारादोकीउपधाराएफमेंसंशोधनकेबादअधिसूचितट्रस्टयाकोईकंपनीविशेषआर्थिकक्षेत्रमेंअपनीकोईइकाईस्थापितकरनेकीहकदारहोजाएगी । इसकेसाथहीकेन्द्रसरकारकोसमय-समयपरअधिसूचनाजारीकरअपनेहिसाबसेकिसीभीइकाईकोव्यक्तिकेरूपमेंपरिभाषितकरनेकीसहूलियतभीहोजाएगी ।

          अभीजोनियमनहैउसमेंसेज (विशेष आर्थिकजोन)मेंट्रस्टकोइकाईलगानेकीअनुमतिनहींहै । संशोधनकेबादसेज (विशेष आर्थिकजोन)मेंनिवेशकोबढ़ावामिलेगाजैसादेखागयाहैकिदेशमेंअधिकांशऔद्योगिकघरानेकिसीनकिसीट्रस्टकोस्थापितकरउसकेद्वारानिवेशकोप्राथमिकतादेतेहैं ।

अत:सरकारद्वाराउठायागयाकदमकाफीअच्छाहै । इससे SEZ में उद्योगोंकीस्थापनामेंबढ़ोतरीहोगी । अबविदेशीनिवेशकोंमेंभीआत्म-विश्वासजगेगा । रोजगारभीसृजनहोगा । साथहीसाथनिर्यातमेंभीबढ़ोतरीहोगी ।

          महोदय,मैंबिहारसेआताहूँ । बिहारपिछड़ाप्रदेशहै । श्रीरघुरामराजनकमेटीकीरिपोर्टभीसरकारकेपासहै । बिहारमेंऔद्योगिकक्रान्तिलानेकीआवश्यकताहै,जिसकेलिएहमारेनेताऔरबिहारकेमुख्यमंत्रीजीलगातारप्रयासकरतेरहेहैं । केन्द्रसरकारद्वारास्थापितसात SEZ हैं । राज्यऔरनिजीक्षेत्रद्वारा 11 SEZ स्थापितहै । 420 प्रस्तावोंकोहरीझण्डीदीगईहै । वर्तमानमें 355 अधिसूचित SEZs मेंसेकुल 223 SEZs कार्यकररहेहैं । अबप्रश्नयहउठताहैकिछोटे-छोटेराज्योंमें SEZ की स्थापनाकीअनुमतिदीगई,फिरभीबिहारजोप्रगतिकेपथपरहै,पिछड़ाराज्यहै,वहांउसकीअनदेखीकीगईहै ।

          सभापतिमहोदय, SEZ अधिनियम-2005कीमूलभावनासेनिर्यातसंवर्धनएवंसंबंधितबुनियादीढाँचेकेसृजनमेंराज्यसरकारोंकेलिएएकप्रमुखभूमिकाकीपरिकल्पनाकीगईहै,किन्तुमैंखेदकेसाथकहनाचाहताहूँकिपिछलीसभीसरकारोंनेबिहारकी SEZ की स्थापनामेंअनदेखीकीहै । जिसकाजीता-जागताउदाहरणहैकिबिहारमेंएकभी SEZ के तहतउद्योगोंकीस्थापनाकेलिएमंजूरीनहींदीगयीहै । जबकिछोटे-छोटेराज्योंकोभीइसकेटेगरीमेंशामिलकियागयाहै । SEZ एकऐसाअधिनियमहै,जिसकेद्वारानिवेशकोंकोछूटदेकरइकाईलगानेकेलिएआकर्षितकियाजाताहै । अगरबिहारकेहितकीबातकेन्द्रसरकारकोकरनीहैतोमेरीमांगहैकिवहाँभी SEZ के तहतइकाईलगानेकीअनुमतिकेन्द्रसरकारकोदेनीचाहिए ।

 मैंआपकेमाध्यमसेकेन्द्रसरकारसेआग्रहकरताहूँकिबिहारमें SEZ की स्थापनाकरेजिससेकिवहबिहारकेलोगोंकोभीउद्योगलगानेमेंआसानीहो,विदेशीनिवेशकआएऔरबेरोजगारोंकोभीरोजगारमिले । यहीबातकहकरमैंअपनीबातकोसमाप्तकरताहूँ । मैंअपनीपार्टीजनतादलयूनाईटेडकीओरसेइसबिलकासमर्थनकरताहूँ ।

 

श्रीभर्तृहरिमहताब (कटक): सभापतिमहोदय, धन्यवाद           I stand here to deliberate on this amendment Bill of 2019 relating to Special Economic Zones. As the Minister has very rightly mentioned, the concept of Export Processing Zones was formulated in 1965 and it was first started in Kandla. Whenever a new Governments comes, it wants to have a new scheme or rather an old scheme in a new name; and so, this concept of Special Economic Zones came into existence.

          As far as I remember, when this Bill was being deliberated in this House and ultimately passed in 2005, at that time the whole Opposition was abstaining. We did not participate in the deliberations. The only Party which had raised certain objections to the Bill on SEZs had only one major objection: to allow trade unionism in SEZs.  They were the Left Front Members. The commitment that was made on the floor of the House which had been accepted by the then Government and subsequently by the subsequent Government is for all of us to see.

          Even now the hon. Member from Shiv Sena said that it should not be allowed. The basic purpose of the Special Economic Zone or Export Processing Zone is to enable India to be at par with other countries which are manufacturing their products or goods so that we could become competitive. It was mentioned by the hon. Minister in this House that Shri Murasoli Maran had made extensive study on the idea that if China could develop their commercial activities and capture the world market, what was the benefit they could provide to their entrepreneurs so that they could compete with other countries which have actually excelled to capture the world market.

If an Asian country, as they were called the Asian Tigers of South East Asia, could capture the world market – China ultimately surpassed them and captured the world market – why can we not do it?  We have an enterprise earlier, which was established in Kandal in 1965, but subsequently not much work was done.  I think that is the reason for the creation of Special Economic Zone and respective State Governments, because land belongs to the State, were also made partners in the decision-making process.

          Subsequently, as the debate went on, in this House questions were posed as to why large acreage of land was being acquired in the name of SEZ and whether it is only to develop the real Estate; and if it is so; it should be discouraged.  At that time, the then Minister of State for Commerce stood up in the front row and said that one building in Hyderabad has also been declared as a Special Economic Zone.  One, three-storied building near Kolkata also is a Special Economic Zone.  Land is not the criteria.  He was so forceful in his point of view that a Special Economic Zone can also be established in Surat in one building.  The person concerned was involved in the diamond industry. 

          The basic idea, the platform on which Special Economic Zone was built up was that the investment will come from outside, indigenous investment will also be made but the technology that can come from outside will be comparatively duty-free.  It will be free from all the hassles of tax payment because that was one of the major problems which most of the investors were always mentioning.  That is how Special Economic Zone came into existence.

          My good friend Shri Rudy was mentioning about certain suggestions that were made in the National Executive meeting in Lucknow.  I would like to know from him why has he not passed it on to the Swadeshi Jagran Manch or has he collected all that information from Swadeshi Jagran Manch so that they can sit with the Minister and sort it out.  In this way, we can make progress in a better way.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I have also been a very active member of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and I am very proud to say that they have played an important role to protect the Indian industry, particularly the small industry, artisans and handicraft manufacturers.  And, therefore, there is no need to try and attribute any such motives to Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB : ‘Owner’s pride is neighbour’s envy’ is an advertisement which perhaps emanated from Mumbai with the Onida Television.  I do not know whether that exists or not but this clip is always in everybody’s mind.  Both pride and envy are not good things for human beings.

डॉ.निशिकांतदुबे(गोड्डा):लेकिनउसमेंकोईकन्फ्यूजननहींहै । मैंउसकाफाउण्डरमेंबरहूं । …(व्यवधान)

SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY (KOLKATA UTTAR): Sir, have Shri Nishikant Dubey and Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy been deployed for disturbing the Members?  They are senior Members, good orators and have enough scope to deliver. …(Interruptions)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Nothing will go on record.

…(Interruptions)* माननीयसभापति : महताबजी,आपअपनीबातकहिए ।

 

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB : These are the points on which I have interacted with the Swadeshi Jagran Manch a number of times.  It is in the interest of our country to protect our indigenous entrepreneurs.  I will come to the aspect of FDI later on provided I am given time.

 17.00 hrs But taking an Ordinance route is something which should be avoided. That point has already been made by Shri N.K. Premachandran, Dr. Shashi Tharoor and also by Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay. But I would only like to mention this here. The urgency enshrined in the Constitution does not suffice. The logic that has been put forth does not suffice. I will wait for the hon. Minister’s reply that as to what was the urgency to bring it here.

17.01 hrs             (Shrimati Meenakashi Lekhi in the Chair) The only thing which is mentioned in this Bill is that you are making an amendment to bring in two words, ‘a trust’ or ‘any entity’. I have no objection to that to bring in ‘a trust’ or ‘any entity’. It needs to be defined and can be defined subsequently in the rules, of course. But what I am objecting to is that it is to be notified by the Central Government. Here, my objection relates to a law on policy. It has to be non-discriminatory and without any discretion. The less discretionary power is given to the Government, the better it is. In the last ten years, what have we witnessed in our country? More discretionary powers are with the decision-making authority. More bungling has taken place. So, why are you bringing in this line – ‘a trust’ or ‘any entity’ to be notified by the Central Government? Why should it be notified by the Government? You are putting a bit of bottleneck or you are creating a hindrance. It may not happen during your tenure, but once you are enshrining it into the law, it may happen subsequently.

          The SEZ policy was launched in April, 2000. The SEZ Act came into existence in the year 2005. The rules were made in the year 2006. What are the salient features in it? I am not going to narrate the full of it – ‘a designated duty-free enclave to be treated as a territory’.

Madam, do you want me to stop?

HON. CHAIRPERSON : No, I just want you to conclude.

SHRI  BHARTRUHARI  MAHTAB : So, as far as I have understood, I should not be discussing this. I was not a member of the Business Advisory Committee. But, initially, two hours were allotted for this Bill to be discussed. We have another one hour.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: We have so many other parties and so many other participants. Instead of three minutes, ten minutes are already over. So, it is for this reason, you could just wind up and make your points shorter and concise.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: I need five minutes and I will conclude by five minutes.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Sir, please take two minutes.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB : There is no point in two minutes. I would say this for the first time after 18 years, that the progress of SEZ is being deliberated in this House. This Bill gives us an occasion to review the functioning of SEZ in our country. What has happened? The commitment, which was made for the development of SEZ idea during different regimes or Governments, was trampled upon. MAT was imposed though certain commitments were made that it is not going to be imposed. Income Tax was imposed though a commitment was made that it will not going to be imposed till such and such date. These are the things which need to be discussed and we need answers from the hon. Minister. If my deliberation gets curtailed, I would not be able to raise all these issues. These issues are not being repeated. It is not that somebody else has raised these issues.

          Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay mentioned about a report.  That report was compiled within six months’ time by Mr. Baba Kalyani.  What does that report say?  That report does not get reflected in this amendment.  I am not going to go into the details of that report, though I have all the details and I also have that report with me but I would like to understand it from the Minister.  In last December, when a question was posed in Rajya Sabha whether you are considering that report or not, the answer that was given was that it is under consideration.  A number of points were mentioned and one point was that trade competitiveness was the idea of SEZ and now it is manufacturing competitiveness that is being brought in.  Is trade competitiveness with world market and manufacturing competitiveness for indigenous market?  What is actually being done for SEZ? 

          In Odisha, we have five SEZs.  There are States where there are many.  We have certain issues relating to SEZs but here I would just like to ask what is the position of the Government relating to the three Es that that Committee had mentioned.  It stands for employment and economic enclaves.  Are you changing the nomenclature of SEZ?  What is the Government thinking?  What part of the draft has been accepted or are you still seeking some more data as was stated earlier in last December?  Do you need more time till the US and China are indulged in trade war because of sanrakshanwad of the US?  America for Americans.  We heard India for India also.  We can sleep over the dispute for sometime but here is an opportunity and the idea that is being touted is that because of WTO pressure, we need to reconsider and we need to re-visit SEZ provisioning.  Why do you want to do it?  Is China doing it  or are other countries doing it?  Whom does it actually help?  I am of the opinion that the three Es will move away from the incentive linkages from exports and hence the condition of net foreign exchange will not be required for manufacturing SEZ.

          The last point which I would like to mention here is relating to the Foreign Direct Investment.  The idea was Foreign Direct Investment will come.  I am not taking last five years flow of FDI into our country.  Last year, the Foreign Direct Investment had come down in comparison to the previous year of 2017.  Is this provision of adding trust and entities will bring in more FDI into our country?  If that happens, it is a welcome step.  If that has happened in-between these three months, it should be appreciated.  But there is a gloom in world trade today.  It is in decline in world market today.  Are we expecting more investment in SEZ?  Lot many things need to be done.  Do not make some cosmetic changes.  You have this report before you.  The Ministry of Finance also has a full-fledged study.  It is before the Ministry of Finance.  I think you are also aware of it.   You sit over it and sort it out. 

                                                                                                                            

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE (BARAMATI): Madam Chairperson, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this Bill.  Many of the important points have already been mentioned. So I would not take much time of the House.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Your mike is not on.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: She is very soft spoken.

SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SADANAND SULE: We come from the same State and so he is saying nice things to me today.

          I would not like to repeat many of the points but I stand here clearly in support of this Bill because SEZ is something which is in the interest of the nation for job creation. I would like to ask a few pointed questions to the hon. Minister and I would take a clue from what Shri Mahtab said. Are we moving from trade to manufacturing? I have absolutely no objection if we are moving to manufacturing because I think the Baba Kalyani Report which Shri Mahtab mentioned – most people have read this report today – it is a very important report because he is one of the largest business houses in the country and has done exceptionally well in contributing to India’s indigenous growth. Incidentally he comes from the same district and State that I come from and so I take great pride that the State of Maharashtra is making such a huge contribution towards SEZ. But I would like to ask the hon. Minister a pointed question that in this entire Bill, how many recommendations have you taken which have come from him? I think, there is still a lot of hesitancy in the matter. He has brought in only the word `trust’.

I appreciate the fact that it is a small Bill but as Mahtab ji said that every policy needs change and innovation with time. If you look at the history of SEZs, they came probably 20 years ago when we first started. Several Governments came after that. The late Murasali Maran did it; then Shri Kamal Nath was the Commerce Minister under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh. But I think, issues have changed. There was a time when there was growth and we were only into manufacturing of cars. SEZs were only for imports. Today, what is the new technology? Today everything has a chip and everything has a battery. Electronics is the only future. So, is the Government taking SEZs forward in electronics which needs a huge infrastructure? Today a lot of SEZs are not doing well.

The hon. Minister talked about `plug and play’. I appreciate that. Is this really a reality? It is not about your Government versus our Government. You also had been in the game for five years now. So, you have lesser reasons now to pat your own back. Five years is a substantial amount of time. I would like to ask the hon. Minister, what are you doing for the infrastructure that is required? It is because whether it is power, transport or logistics, can we give more flexibility to the SEZs? A lot of companies are willing to invest in, say, a port and in an airport and share the cost of infrastructure when the SEZs becomes affordable for all. I would be happy if the hon. Minister could say something on this.

          I was actually surprised by what was said by Shri Raut and I am grateful to him for the intervention that he made because in the Central Government and in the State Government, the Shiv Sena is a partner and he talked about how the State of Maharashtra was hurt today in the development story. He talked about the high prices of electricity and water. It just happens to be that the Industry Minister is also from the Shiv Sena and they are in both the Governments, at the Centre as also in the State. So, I think, it was music to my ears when he said that electricity is expensive in the State of Maharashtra. It is Rs. 7/- and how will Maharashtra say that it is competitive?

 THE MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES ( SHRI ARVIND SAWANT) : He has placed the facts.

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE : I am so glad that Shiv Sena is speaking the truth. Somebody is saying the truth.

SHRI ARVIND SAWANT: Shiv Sena always speaks truth.

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE: I am glad that they do. I hope they continue with the tradition.

          Madam Chairperson, it is Rs. 7/- in Andhra Pradesh and Rs. 9/- in Maharashtra. We cannot sustain this. So, will the Government step in to make sure that there is a level playing field and intervene so that Maharashtra grows? Maharashtra only grows with event of `magnetic Maharashtra’. But nothing magnetic happened and I am not saying it, even Raut ji has said this. I am glad that Shri Sawant is here today and I remember in the last Lok Sabha he had mentioned about the situation of Nokia in the SEZ. When the Nokia plant in Tamil Nadu shut down, about 5000 people lost jobs. So, would the hon. Minister throw some light on this issue? Even Shri Mahtab mentioned about the rules that are involved in this. The companies will come and go; properties and land will stay with them. What happens to the poor people? This Government is very soft and, in every intervention, they say that they are a `grounded Government’. So, the `grounded Government’ should first not worry about the rich and the famous. They should not talk of the owners but should talk about the bottom of the pyramid which is the labour. So, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify his stand on the bottom of the pyramid where they claim that they are running this Government from.

          I have two quick questions. I would not repeat but that was our stand. What was the urgency for promulgating an Ordinance? We all know what is an Ordinance. I am not going to repeat that. But again I stand with all my colleagues and ask why was an Ordinance promulgated and what was the urgency. From whatever little I have read and understood, I will be happy if the hon. Minister – I am a microbiologist by profession and the hon. Minister is an accountant and so he clearly knows a lot more about this than I do – clarifies this point. 

But I would like to ask him one point.  There is a newspaper report which I have not read.  There was a CAG Report on Trusts which came up in this Government only and the reference is to the PAC during the tenure of NDA Government-I.  I would like to quote from the Committee Report:

“The Committee desires that Expert Group under Income Tax Department may be constituted to look into violations because there are tax evasions and misuse of either a Charitable Trust or a general Trust.”   Since you are a Chartered Accountant, you could kindly explain to the House and to me who is a novice to all these things.  The PAC Report on the Trusts says one thing and you have incorporated only one word, namely, ‘Trust’.  If you could kindly clarify what really is the line of the Government, I would be happy as this is a complete contrast to what the PAC of your Government says and what you want to do. 

          Madam, I am coming to my last point and I will not exploit my friendship with you. I have a quick question to ask the hon. Minister. The hon. Minister is adding these Trusts, but how many Trusts, after the Ordinance was promulgated, have got an opportunity to invest? ……(Interruptions) How many people have invested in SEZs from the 2nd of March, after the issuance of Ordinance, till now?

                                                                                                           

SHRI JAYADEV GALLA (GUNTUR): Madam, I am not going to waste any time talking about the Ordinance and the Bill because all comments have already been made.  But I would like to take some time to touch some issues relating to SEZs in this country and make some suggestions which I think will be valuable inputs.

          Madam, the real objectives behind the SEZs are being diluted.  SEZs have become land banks for people today.  So, I strongly feel, while giving land for SEZs, there should be a commitment in terms of how many jobs at different scales and different educational levels are going to be created.  That commitment must be taken upfront.

          Along with job creation commitment, a requirement for industries to set up Skill Development Centres to train local people and to increase local employment should also be made mandatory.

          We also have to look at the tax revenue which is going to be generated by these SEZs.  There should be conditions for this also while giving land for SEZs.    If all these commitments are fulfilled, then Government giving land at even minimum price, even for developers, is definitely worthwhile.  I am saying this because employment opportunities created and revenue generated will stimulate the local economy and improve, as our hon. Prime Minister rightly said, the ease of living for everyone in this country. 

          Wealth so created will make up for the subsidized land.   This is the theory behind SEZs and there are many shining examples of successful SEZs in this country but at the same time, there are even more failures where land is kept idle and not being put to productive use where the intent of the developers is suspect as they sit on these land banks with ulterior motives.  So, we have to see how we create a policy that encourages the former and discourages the latter.

          One of the main points in setting up SEZs, as many Members have already mentioned, is land acquisition. Land owners whose land is acquired get less than the actual market price generally - not the official price - and the value of the land of the neighbours increases.  The price of the land which has been left outside the border of the SEZs escalates.  So, the original land owners feel a double whammy. Their land is being taken away at below market prices while their neighbour’s land price is escalating upsetting the entire social equations in that area as well.

          One idea which we can definitely consider here - to avoid this type of escalation and ill feelings among the people whose land is being acquired - is the idea of land pooling.   Land pooling was something which we have done very effectively in Amaravati.  We got more than 34,000 acres of land and I hope that YSRCP is keeping it in mind that it has come from more than 30,000 farmers who are now wondering as to what is their future in Amaravati.   They have to definitely do something about it. But land pooling is an idea that definitely can be considered for SEZs.

          Madam, even better, why not we consider the idea, whose time, I think, has come – the idea of Rural Economic Zone. Rather than Special Economic Zone, where there is a border, where there is a limited supply of land, the land prices go through the roof, the land prices become expensive for industry, and there is a lot of heart ache with land acquisition, why not we consider the idea of Rural Economic Zone? Rather than going to already developed areas, you take every district where the Human Development Index is below a certain level and provide these incentives to all those areas so that jobs can be created where they are needed the most and where people are not having jobs today. Rural Economic Zone, I believe, is an idea for which the time has come.

          Thank you.

 

SHRI E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER (PONNANI): Madam, this Amendment Bill is just a cosmetic type of a Bill.…(Interruptions)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Mr. Basheer, you just have three minutes to speak.

SHRI E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER : Okay, Madam.

          Actually, this Government could have brought a very effective legislation on this Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. Three very effective documents were there before the Government. One is C&AG Report on SEZ. Two, as correctly pointed out by the former speakers, we have Baba Kalyani Committee Report which went into the details of the functioning of this SEZ. Similarly, there is two and a half years of our own experience in running this SEZ. What the C & AG Report dated November 28, 2014 says is this, and I quote:

“Considering the significant shortfalls in achievement of the intended socio-economic objectives by all the sectors of SEZs, there is an urgent need for the government to review the factors hindering the growth of non-operational and under-performing zones.”   It is a very-very effective observation by the C&AG. The Government should at least have a look into that. Mahtabji was asking as to what actions you have taken about that. That document was there before them. The third one is our own experience. Since the last two and a half years, we have been running this. From that experience, I think, there are a lot of corrective measures to be taken for the effective functioning of this SEZ.

          Madam, we all know that there are a lot of concessions and incentives given to this SEZ, like liberalised NOC for import, exemption from routine export and import procedure of customs and all such things. Similarly, the Income Tax exemption and also the freedom of giving manufacturing process on sub contract are there.

          I would like to remind the hon. Minister that we all are duty-bound to ensure that these liberalised concessions are not misused. Even if you see the parent Act, you will understand that there are no safeguards for that. This is a very important thing.

          Coming to this Report, it is a very lengthy Report and I do not want to say much about that. They have suggested ‘EEE system’, that is, Economic Growth, Employment and Economic Enclaves. They have suggested so many effective recommendations such as formulation of separate rules and procedures for manufacturing and service SEZs, promotion of integrated industrial and urban development walk-to-work zones, promotion of MSME participation in 3Es and enable manufacturing enabling service players to locate in 3E, etc. Unfortunately, you have not given even a small consideration about these kinds of very effective recommendations. You could have done it. Law making process is a very important work. If you have added all these things, you could have made a very effective legislation.

          I would like to say another important thing. This land is handed over to the developer.…(Interruptions) I am concluding in one minute. It may be kindly examined whether the optimum utilisation is done or not.

          Lastly, I want to make one more point. Converting agricultural land for setting up industrial units in SEZ should not be undertaken. This is very important. We are creating SEZ for a very good purpose. If you take agricultural land for SEZ, it is not correct because agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. This is not being done in China. In China, they have made a specific provision that agricultural land should not be used for this purpose. Unfortunately, the Government has not even applied its mind to this point. You could have done this.

          With these words, I conclude.

 

SHRIMATI ANUPRIYA PATEL (MIRZAPUR): Hon. Chairperson, I thank you for allowing me to speak in support of the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which seeks to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and replace the Ordinance which was promulgated on 2nd March, 2019.

          There is a small amendment which has been made in this Bill, that is, the words, ‘trust or any other entity notified by the Central Government’ have been included in the definition of ‘person’ and the need for this amendment was being felt for a very long time. So, this is being done today. What I would like to know from the hon. Minister is what are those trusts which have been allowed to establish, develop and manage the SEZs for the promotion of exports post 2nd March, 2019 when the Ordinance was promulgated?

          Madam, we all understand that Special Economic Zones are being established and developed with the objective of giving a boost to economy, creating employment opportunities and developing infrastructure. If we take a look at the country as a whole, there are about 355 notified Special Economic Zones in India, out of which 223 are Special Economic Zones which are exporting SEZ.  Among these, the States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have the maximum number of Special Economic Zones, followed by the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The amount of employment opportunities they have created up to the year 2017-18 is 19,77,216. But I feel this figure can grow much bigger and these opportunities can be extended to other States of India as well.

   

17.27 hrs                       (Hon. Speaker in the Chair)           Sir, I come from the State of Uttar Pradesh, which, in terms of population, is one of the largest States of the country and we have parts of the State like the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, Poorvanchal, in which my constituency Mirzapur also falls and Bundelkhand from where there is a mass migration of labourers every year to the other parts of the country in search of employment opportunities. So, we can say that human resource is available in abundance in States like Uttar Pradesh, but somehow Uttar Pradesh has not really come up in the priority of the developers for establishing Special Economic Zones. I urge upon the hon. Minister to bring States like Uttar Pradesh on the priority list, because the developers have a natural tendency to move towards the more prosperous States which tend to prosper even more and the backward regions get no benefit at all. So, it is in your hand. If you want, you can bring these States on priority so that such States also get to benefit from the development of Special Economic Zones.

          I think this is also time for us to review the progress of Special Economic Zones as to how far they have been successful in bringing transformation in the country and fulfilling the objectives for which they have come up in our country. There was a Committee which was set up in 2018 to evaluate the Special Economic Zone Policy of India and suggest measures to make the policy comparable to international standards. In its Report, the Committee have brought out several reasons which could potentially be attributed to the constraints faced by Special Economic Zones.

The Committee has also recommended several changes in the SEZ Policy. They are like, shift in the framework from export growth to broad-based employment and economic growth, formulation of separate rules and procedures for manufacturing and service the Special Economic Zones, creation of enabling framework for ease of doing business and sync with the Statewise ease of doing business initiatives, procedural relaxations for developers and tenants to improve the operation and exit issues and one integrated online portal for new investments, operational requirements and exit-related matters.

I want to understand from the hon. Minister as to how far these recommendations have been accepted and what the Ministry has done so far to make sure that we move on these lines and improve the performance of Special Economic Zones.

With these words, I conclude.

 

रेलमंत्रीतथावाणिज्यऔर उद्योगमंत्री (श्रीपीयूषगोयल): अध्यक्षमहोदय, मुझेबहुतप्रसन्नताहैकिइतनेछोटेअमेंडमेंटपरइतनीज्यादारुचिमाननीयसदस्योंनेदिखाईहै । लगभग 13माननीयसांसदोंनेअपनेसुझावदिएहैंऔरप्रश्नभीपूछेहैं । समयकेअभावमेंमैंशायदविस्तारसेनहींबतापाऊंगा, लेकिनमैंमाननीयसदस्योंकीचिंताओंपरअपनेविचाररखनेकीपूरीकोशिशकरूंगा । माननीयप्रेमचंद्रनजी, शशिथरूरजी, भर्तृहरिजीऔरसुदिप्तोजीकोचिंताथीकिऑर्डिनेंसलानेमेंजल्दबाजीक्योंकीगयी । मैंसमझताहूंकिअगरसभीमाननीयसदस्यअपनेगिरेबानमेंदेखेंतोध्यानमेंआएगाकिकितनेसारेऐसेकानूनयहसरकारलानाचाहतीथी, जिससेदेशकीआर्थिकप्रगतिऔरविकासकोऔरतेजगतिमिलती, बलमिलता । लेकिनअलग-अलगप्रकारकेडिसटर्बेंसिसकेकारणकभीयहसदन, कभीदूसरासदनऔरकभीतोदोनोंसदननहींचलतेथे । इसकेकारणजनताकेद्वारापूर्णबहुमतकीसरकारकाआदेशदिएजानेकेबावजूदऔरइससदनसेपारितहोनेकेबादभीराज्यसभाकेनचलपानेकेकारणहमआगेबढ़नहींपातेथे । इनडिसटर्बेंसिसऔरडिलेज़केकारणकईविषयरहगए, जिसकारणसेऑर्डिनेंसकारूटलेनापड़ा, खासतौरसेदेशमेंएफडीआईलानेकेलिए ।

जैसाकिभर्तृहरिजीनेबतायाकिदेशमेंइनवेस्टमेंटआएऔरदेशकीआर्थिकप्रगतिमेंदेरीनहो । स्टेटमेंटमेंभीलिखागयाहै, इंटरनेशनलफाइनैंशियलसैंटर्सवगैरहइसदेशमेंआएं, निवेशआए, अलग-अलगप्रकारकेजोमॉडर्नइनवेस्टमेंटकेव्हीकल्सहैं, वेभीइसदेशमेंआसकें । इसमेंविलम्बहोनेसेकिसीकोलाभयाहानिनहींथी, जैसेहीध्यानमेंआयाऔरसेबीनेएकनोटिफिकेशननिकालाजिसकेतहतअल्टरनेटइनवेस्टमेंटफण्ड्सकोअलाऊकियागयाकिवेभीइनवेस्टकरें । इसकेबादसरकारकोलगाकियहअच्छारहेगाकिदेशमेंअल्टरनेटइनवेस्टमेंटफण्ड्सकेमाध्यमसेस्पेशलइकोनॉमिकजोन्स, जोफाइनेंसकेक्षेत्रमेंहैंऔरइंटरनेशनलफाइनैंशियलसर्विसिससैंटर्सकेरूपमेंकामकरतेहैं, उनकोभीअलाऊकियाजाए । हमनेलिखाभीहैकि 26नवम्बर, 2018 को जबसेबीनेअल्टरेनेटइनवेस्टमेंटफण्ड्सकोट्रस्टकेमाध्यमसेइंटरनेशनलफाइनैंशियलसैंटर्समेंऑपरेटकरनेकेलिएअनुमतिदीथी । साथहीसाथरिज़र्वबैंकनेट्रस्टकीपरिभाषाबहुतअच्छेतरीकेसेसमझारखीहै । किसीनेचैरिटेबलट्रस्टकेऊपरसीएजीरिपोर्टकेबारेमेंकहा, किसीनेकहाकिट्रस्टकीडेफिनेशननहींदीगयीहै । इसकीडेफिनेशनउसकेरेगुलेटर्सदेतेहैं । पर्सनकीडेफिनेशनमेंइंडिविजुअलकौनहै? लिमिटेडकम्पनीक्याहै? पार्टनरशिपक्याहै? यहसबहरकानूनमेंनहींदियाजाताहै । यहमेनकानूनमेंदियाजाताहैऔरसेबीनेउसकोठीकतरीकेसेपूरासमझायाहै । 26 नवम्बरकोउसकीडेफिनेशनऔरअनुमतिआयी । उसकेबादजैसाकिहमसभीजानतेहैंकिबजटसेशनआनेवालाथा । यहछोटासेशनथा, क्योंकिइंटरिमबजटआनाथा । उससमयकईसारेइंट्रप्शन्सऔरडिस्टर्बेंसिसकेकारणकोईनयाकानूनलानेकीसम्भावनानहींथी । चूंकिऑपरेटिंगबॉडीज़फाइनैंशियलसेक्टरमेंलानेकेलिएट्रस्टएककॉमनफोरमहै, ऐसीपरिस्थितिमेंइसऑर्डिनेंसकोपारितकियागया । मैंसमझताहूंकिकांस्टीट्यूशनमेंभीराष्ट्रपतिमहोदयकोयहजिम्मेदारीदीगईहैकिऑर्डिनेंसकोलानेकीजरूरतहैयानहीं । यहसबदेखकरहीवेऑर्डिनेंसकोपारितकरतेहैं । मैंएकलाइनक्वोटकरनाचाहूंगा । माननीयप्रधानमंत्रीजीनेकहाथा – And I quote:

“India had a leadership position in information technology.  Finance was being increasingly married to technology.  It was becoming very clear to us that finance combined with technology, or FinTech as it is sometimes called, would be an important part of India’s future development.” उनकेमनमेंपूरेसमययहकल्पनारहतीथी: “How to make India a thought leader in the field of finance?” आखिरकबतकभारतदूसरेदेशोंपरनिर्भररहेगा । कबभारतअपनीखुदकीएकऐसीव्यवस्थाखड़ीकरे,जिसकीअंतर्राष्ट्रीयस्तरपरमंजूरीहो । खासतौरसेभारतकीएकबहुतबढ़ियालोकेशनहै । हमईस्टऔरवैस्टकेबीचमेंहैं । अगरहमइंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसर्विसेज़सेंटरकोदिनभरचलाएं,तोएकप्रकारसेजैपनीज़मार्केटजबस्टार्टहोतीहैं,तबसेलेकरअमेरिकनमार्केटजबखत्महोतीहैं,तबतकभारतकेफाइनेंशियलसेक्टरकोएककान्फिडेंसदिलाएगा,एकअपार्चूनिटीदिलाएगा,इंटरनेशनलफाइनेंशियलसर्विसेज़सेंटरकेरूपमें । यहट्रस्टमॉडलअल्टरनेटिवइन्वेस्टमेंटफंड्सवगैरहएकप्रकारसेस्टैब्लिस्टमॉडल,विदेशोंमेंबलदेनेकेलिएइस्तेमालकियाजाताहै । भारतभीउसकोअपनेयहांलानाचाहताहै । इसीलिएएआईएफएसवगैरहकोऑपरेटकरनेकेलिएआरबीआई,सेबीद्वारापरवानगीमिलनेकेबादऐसातयकियागयाकिइसकोपारितकरदियाजाए । यहबहुतसाधारणथा,इसकेपीछेकिसीछुपीहुईचैरिटेबलट्रस्टकीडेफिनेशनऔरयेऔरवोमेंजानेकीजरूरतनहींहै ।

          जैसाकिमाननीयप्रधानमंत्रीजीनेकहाहैकिसबकासाथ,सबकाविकास,सबकाविश्वास,वास्तवमेंइसकोभीउसट्रस्टकेसाथदेखाजाए । यहइतनीपारदर्शीसरकारहैकिहमजोकामकरतेहैं,उसेबड़ेखुलेतरीकेसेऔरपूरीदुनियामेंढिंढोरापीटकर,सुनाकर,समझाकरकरतेहैं । इसमेंकोईघुसजाएगा,कोईएन्टिटीघुसजाएगी,ट्रस्टजोसेबीऔरआरबीआईअप्रूवकरे । ऐसेहीकलकोईऔरएन्टिटीकामॉडलआए,तोउसकेलिएपरवानगीहैसेन्ट्रलगवर्नमेंट,उसटाइपकीएन्टिटीज़कोभीअलाउकरें । यहस्वाभाविकहैकिअगरकरेंगे,तोवहपार्लियामेंटकेसामनेपेशहोगा । जबभीऐसीकिसीएन्टिटीकोअलाऊकियाजाताहै,पार्लियामेन्ट्रीरुल्समेंइसकेस्टैबिलाइज्डप्रावधानहैं ।

          मैंएकबातजरूरकहनाचाहूंगा,वैसेतोमैंइसवाद-विवादमेंनहींपड़नाचाहरहाथा,लेकिनएसईजेडकेसभीरुल्स,सभीप्रावधानजो 2005 के एसईजेडएक्टमेंहैं,वह 2003 में रूल्सद्वारापूरेतरीकेसेश्रीअटलबिहारीवाजपेयीजीकीसरकारमेंआगएथे । उल्टेजो 2005 के एक्टकाप्रिऐम्बलहै,मैंउसकोपढ़करसुनानाचाहूंगा-

“While the policy relating to the Special Economic Zones is contained in the Foreign Trade Policy, incentives and other facilities offered to the Special Economic Zone developer and units are implemented through various notifications and circulars issued by the concerned Ministries/Departments. The present system, therefore, does not lend enough confidence for investors to commit substantial funds for development of infrastructure and for setting up of the units in the Zones for export of goods and services. In order to give a long term and stable policy framework with minimum regulatory regime and to provide expeditious and single window clearance mechanism, a Central Act for Special Economic Zones has been found to be necessary in line with international practice.”   तबभीहमारेरूल्सकोकानूनमेंइसलिएपरिवर्तितकियागयाकिविश्वकाभारतकेऊपरएककान्फिडेंसबढ़े । साथहीसाथइंटरनेशनलप्रैक्टिसकोक्वोटकियागयाहै । हमभीइंटरनेशनलप्रैक्टिसकेहिसाबसेअल्टरनेटिवइन्वेस्टमेंटफंड्सवगैरहट्रस्टकोअलाउकरनेकेलिएयहअमेंडमेंटलाएहैं ।

एकऔरबातकहीगईकियहएसईजेडसक्सेसफुलनहींहोरहेहैं । कुछमाननीयसांसदोंनेयहभीजिक्रकियाकिकुछफिस्कलबेनिफिट्स,इनकमटैक्सवगैरहकेबेनिफिट्सनहोनेकेकारणयेएसईजेडसक्सेसफुलनहींहोरहेहैं । खासतौरसेयहविषयमाननीयशशिथरूरजीनेरेज़कियाजोकांग्रेसपार्टीकेबड़ेवरिष्ठनेताहैं ।…(व्यवधान)मैंउनकोयाददिलानाचाहूंगाकिकांग्रेसकीहीसरकारथी,यूपीएकीसरकारकीथी,जिसमेंकांग्रेसलीडकरतीथी,जिसने 2011-12 में जोसभीकन्सेशन्सवाजपेयीजीकीसरकारनेदिएथे,इन्कमटैक्सकन्सेशन्सएसईजेडकोप्रमोटकरनेकेलिए,यहसबकांग्रेसनेवर्ष 2011-12 में विदड्राकिए । जोबेनिफिट्सएसईजेडडेवलेपर्सकोमिलतेथे,जोबेनिफिट्सयूनिट्सकोमिलतेथे,वेबेनिफिट्स 2011 से विदड्राकिए । डिविडेन्डडिस्ट्रीब्यूशनटैक्स 1 जून, 2011 से लेवीकरदिया,जोडिविडेन्डएसईजेडडेवलेपर्सदेतेथे । फरवरी, 2011 में बजटप्रपोजल्समेंजितनेबेनिफिट्सएसईजेडकेथे,उनसबकोविदड्राकरके,जोएडवर्सइम्पैक्टएसईजेडग्रोथमेंआया,मैंसीधाउनकोआंकड़ोंसेबतासकताहूं ।

सन् 2009-10 तक नएएसईज़ेडसकेप्रपोज़ल्सआतीहैं,अप्रूवहोरहीथीं,कोईविड्रॉनहींकरनाचाहरहाथा । सन् 2011 में इनकेआनेकेबादसेडीनोटिफिकेशनऑफएसईज़ेडकेलिएजिसतेज़ीसेरिक्वेस्टरिसीवहुए,तोयूपीए-2मेंएसईज़ेडसकोडीनोटिफाईकरनेकेलिए 67 रिक्वेस्ट्सआए । सिर्फयूपीए-2केपांचवर्षकेकार्यकालमेंयहहुआऔरइसकासबसेबड़ाकारणथाकिउन्होंनेइनकमटैक्सबैनिफिट्सविड्रॉकरकेइसपूरेएसईज़ेडलॉकीधज्जियांउड़ादीं । मैंसमझताहॅूंकिसाथहीसाथजोलैण्डकेइश्युज़हैं,लैण्डकेइश्युज़मेंकईमाननीयसांसदोंनेविषयउठायाफार्मिंगलैण्डवगैरहका,एसईज़ेड्सकेसंबंधमेंएकस्पष्टप्रावधानहैकिबोर्डऑफअप्रूवल्सकोईएसईज़ेडसकोअप्रूवनहींकरेगा । जहांराज्यसरकारनेयातोपहले,याप्रपोज़करतीहैकंप्लसरीएक्विज़िशनऑफलैण्ड । साथहीसाथराज्यसरकारकोएडवाइज़कियागयाहैकिलैण्डएक्विज़िशनकीपहलीप्रायोरिटीवेस्टएण्डबैरनलैण्डकीहोनीचाहिए । अगरलेनीभीपड़ेतोसिंगलक्रॉपलीजाएऔरअगरबहुतजरूरीहोकिथोड़ीडबलक्रॉपलेनीपड़े,कंटिग्विटीबनानेकेलिएतोवहदसप्रतिशतसेज्यादानहींहोसकतीहै । यहएसईज़ेडलैण्डकेलिएहै । मैंसमझताहॅूंकिअगरकोईज़मीनअभीतकएसईज़ेडमेंपूरीतरीकेसेयूज़नहींहुईहैतोउसकेलिएभीकांग्रेसकोसोचनापड़ेगा । यूपीएकेसमर्थकदलतृणमूलकांग्रेसनेआजलैण्डएक्विज़िशनकीबड़ीबातकहीहै । सन् 2005 में यहकानूनपासहुआ,तबतोतृणमूलकांग्रेसनेकांग्रेसकोसपोर्टकियाथा ।तबक्योंनहींउन्होंनेअपोज़कियाकिएसईज़ेडकेलिएलैण्डएक्वायरहोगा?यहआजआफ्टरथॉटकहांसेआगया?इसीप्रकारसेमाननीयबहनसुप्रियासूलेजीऔरकईमाननीयसांसदोंनेबाबाकल्याणीजीकीरिपोर्टकाजिक्रकियाहै । मैंवास्तवमेंबाबाकल्याणीजीकोधन्यवाददूंगा । वे मेरेहीराज्यसेहीआतेहैं,जिधरसेसुप्रियाजीआतीहैं । उन्होंनेबहुतअच्छीतरीकेसेएसईजेडपॉलिसीकोस्टडीकियाहै । समयकेअभावमेंउसकोमैंपूरापढ़ूंगानहीं । लेकिनहमनेएक-एकरिक्मेंडेशनको,कुछरिक्मेंडेशंसकोतोऑलरेडीपूरीतरीकेसेलागूकरदियाहै,ऐसीपांचरिक्मेंडेशंसहैं । तीनरिक्मेंडेशंसजिनकोएडमिनिस्ट्रेशनऑर्डरसेमैंकरसकताहॅूं, 31 जुलाई तकअनुमानितहैकिमैंकरलूंगा । एकरिक्मेंडेशनहै,जिसमेंरूल्सअमेंडकरनेपड़ेंगे,उनको 15 सितंबरतककरनेकीकार्यवाहीशुरूकरदीगईहै । कुछरिक्मेंडेशंसहैं,जिसमेंडिपार्टमेंटऑफरेवन्युकेसाथऔरबाकीमंत्रालययाराज्यसरकारकेसाथप्रावधानऔररूल्सबदलनेपड़ेंगे । ऐसीछहरिक्मेंडेशंसहैं । हमाराअनुमानितसमय 30 नवंबर तककाहै । साथहीसाथकुछरिक्मेंडेशंसहैं,जिनमेंएकबारफिरएसईज़ेडएक्टकोअमेंडकरनापड़ेगा । उनअमेंडमेंट्सकोहमस्टडीकररहेहैं । मैंबाकीविभागोंकेसाथचर्चाकरकेएकबारपुन:इससदनकेसामनेआऊंगा,तबआपऔरजितनेचाहेसवालपूछसकतेहैं । मैंउनसबकाभीज़रूरजवाबदूंगा । आजकेलिएमेराआपसबसेअनुरोधहैकिआपसबइसअमेंडमेंटकासमर्थनकर,हमनेजोकोशिशकीहैकिजल्दसेजल्ददेश-दुनियाकेलोगभारतमेंनिवेशकरेंऔरउसकोचुनावकीभागा-दौड़ीमेंविलंबनकरें,उसकाआपसमर्थनकरें ।

          धन्यवाद ।

 

DR. SHASHI THAROOR : Sir, the hon. Minister has referred the Report of Baba Kalyani-led Committee which has not been shared with the House. …(Interruptions) Can he place the Report before the House? …(Interruptions)

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I will certainly send it to you.  I think, it is available on the website also but if it is not available, I will make it available to you.…(Interruptions) It is already on the website. s माननीयअध्यक्ष : श्री एन.के.प्रेमचन्द्रनजी ।

 

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN : Thank you very much Speaker, Sir.  The Baba Kalyani Committee Report is already in the public domain.  It is with me and it is in the Library also.

          Sir, I have raised very serious questions.  First question is this.  What was the urgency in promulgating the Ordinance?  Unfortunately, that has not been answered. …(Interruptions) The Original Act was enacted in the year 2005.  The Government had no intention to make an amendment to the Original Act upto 2019 by incorporating the word ‘trust’ or ‘entity’.

My question still remains unanswered.  What is the urgency in having an amendment through an Ordinance?  That is the question which still remains unanswered. 

          The second point which I would like to highlight is this.  Another question which we have raised before the hon. Minister is this.  How many companies or how many entities or how many trusts were being recognised and notified so that they will get the benefit under the Special Economic Zones Act or as per the amended Ordinance?  That is the second question that also remains unanswered.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: Thank you very much.  Speaker Sir, I will take one minute only. 

First of all, I have just now explained, quoting the law of 2005, that the international world wants certainty.  When SEBI allowed the Alternative Investment Funds in the form of trust in November 2018, we wanted that international investors get confidence.  They can come in the AIF form.  But you did not allow the Parliament to function, particularly the other House where we do not have a majority.  Hon. Prime Minister has again today appealed to the Opposition that we do not have a majority, but support us to implement the agenda which the people of India have voted us for. 

          Similarly, there was an urgency that we wanted the world to start investing in India.  Sunset clause is coming in March, 2020.  Therefore, we thought why should we delay it by six months while the process of elections was going on? 

As regards the number of applications, we have received six applications so far under this amendment which, I think, is a very good achievement considering that the whole country was going through elections.  Despite that, I think, investors had the confidence that a strong and stable Government will come in India.  Therefore, six applications have come.  One received approval only a day or two ago and five more are under process for approval.  All of this is in the interest of encouraging more and more investments to come into India.  I am sure this House wants this country to progress and the people of India to benefit from that progress.

माननीयअध्यक्ष : श्रीभगवंतमान ।

SHRI BHAGWANT MANN (SANGRUR): Thank you very much, Sir. …(Interruptions)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : माननीयसदस्य, एकमिनट  । श्रीएन.के. प्रेमचन्द्रन ।

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN : Finally, the hon. Minister has cited regarding the definition of ‘trust’ here.  I do accept the argument of the hon. Minister that if ‘trust’ is not defined in the original Act, the General Clauses Act will be applicable.  But as far as the term ‘entity’ is concerned, there is no general clause definition.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: You are such a seasoned Parliamentarian.  Please read the words; it is entity as notified by the Government.  Entity does not have any definition.  Trust is also an entity.  Proprietorship is an entity.  Private limited company is an entity.  We are a modern Government.  If the world comes up with some new way of investing, that entity will be notified.  How can we define an entity?  We do not know what exists in the future.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN: If the term ‘entity’ is not defined in the original Act, my strong objection is that, according to the whims and fancies of the Government, the Government can determine any entity or any people or any group which are entitled for SEZ benefit.  That is the objection which we are raising.  These are the points which I would like to highlight.  I conclude, Sir.

                                                                                                         

माननीयअध्यक्ष : मंत्रीजी, आपएकसाथजवाबदेदीजिएगा ।

श्रीभगवंतमान ।

 

श्रीभगवंतमान : मिनिस्टरसाहबकाएसईजेडकाजोप्रस्तावहै, मैंउसकास्वागतकरताहूँ । मैंपंजाबसेआताहूँ । पंजाबकेआस-पासजोस्टेटहैं, वहटैक्सहैवनस्टेटहैं । हिमाचलप्रदेश, जम्मूहै । हालांकिपंजाबमेंबहुतहीफर्टाइलजमीनहै, लेकिन 533 किलोमीटरजोएरियाहै, वहपाकिस्तानकेबॉर्डरकेसाथलगताहै । वहाँपरकोईबड़ीफसलतोहोनहींसकती, कुछतोकंटीलीतारमेंआतीहै । वहाँकेलोगयातोबेरोज़गारहैंयाफिरड्रग्समेंजातेहैं । क्याआपऐसाकुछप्रावधानकरसकतेहैंकिपंजाबकेलिएकुछऐसीइंडस्ट्रीआए, क्योंकिहमारेपंजाबकेनौजवानयातो IELTS करके बाहरजारहेहैंयाइधर-उधरभटकरहेहैं । मैंउसकेबारेमेंपूछनाचाहताहूँ ।

माननीयअध्यक्ष : माननीयसदस्ययहबिलहै ।

श्रीभगवंतमान: मिनिस्टरसाहबमेराएकसजेशनहै । जैसेपर्लकम्पनीहै, उसनेकरोड़ोंरुपयेकीजमीनहड़पली । क्याऐसीचिटफंडकम्पनियोंद्वाराहड़पीहुईजमीनकोएक्वायरकरकेउनकेपैसेवापसनहींहोसकते? सर, मेरेएक-दोक्वेश्चनहैं ।

मैंयहकहनाचाहताहूँकिहमएसईजेडकास्वागतकरेंगे,लेकिनहमारेपंजाबकीभीथोड़ीसलाहलेलीजिए ।

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY (BAHARAMPUR): Sir, since the year 2005, the concept of SEZ has been in existence. You are simply inheriting the concept that was conceived by the UPA Government.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I had just mentioned the history of SEZ.

डॉ.निशिकांतदुबे: 2003 में रूलबनगयाथा ।

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: The first SEZ was started more than six decades ago. In 2005, the Act has come into existence. Do not try to belittle the concept of SEZ.

डॉ.निशिकांतदुबे:एसईजेडरूलवर्ष 2003 में बना ।

माननीयअध्यक्ष : माननीयसदस्यगण,मंत्रीजी जवाबदे देंगे । आपरहने दीजिए ।

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY : Why has the SEZ been a success story in China whereas we have failed to achieve the desired results?  SEZ has become an engine of manufacturing in China. May I know how many SEZs which were proposed are still non-functional? What is the number of functional and non-functional SEZs and how many are lying vacant? 

          Furthermore, how many people are being employed in our SEZ infrastructure and what is their total turnover of SEZs?  Do you have any comparative statement between 2014 and 2019?  What is the growth of employment in the SEZ sector?

          Do you think that the site selection of SEZ are creating problems?  How is the selection of site determined?  Why do four States of our country namely, Goa, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland have no SEZs?  What are the reasons?  Jharkhand is a mineral rich State.  Dubey ji has come from Jharkhand.

SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH (KAKINADA): There is an urgent need to solve the farmers’ problems in the SEZ area.  The farmers have given their agricultural lands and are now facing many problems.  There is no income for their livelihoods.

SHRI  BHARTRUHARI  MAHTAB : Hon. Speaker Sir, I had raised the question of suggestions that were made in Baba Kalyani’s Report.

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I had answered that question. You were not there in the House.

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: Okay.

श्रीपीयूषगोयल : महोदय, मुझेजवाब देनाहै । 

माननीयअध्यक्ष : आपकीइच्छाहो तोजवाब देदीजिए ।

श्रीपीयूषगोयल : महोदय, वैसेतो जवाबदेने कोकुछ हैनहीं ।माननीयसदस्यने जोकहा है, उसेपंजाबराज्यको तयकरना पड़ेगाकि लैंडएक्विजिशन, लैंडका क्याकरना है, इसेवे तयकरते हैं ।

भर्तृहरिजी, मैंनेबाबा कल्याणीरिपोर्टका पूरानिचोड़करके किकिस-किसमें हमनेकाम करलिया है, किसपर डेडलाइन केसाथ कामआगे होनेवाला है, सबडिटेल्सहमने दीहैं । किसानोंके इश्यूजआपकी राज्यसरकारको हीहल करनेपड़ेंगे ।लैंड एक्विजिशनऔर फार्मरके साथजो संबंधहै, वेस्टेटके संबंधहैं । उसमेंकेन्द्रसरकारकुछ दखलंदाजीनहीं करसकती है ।

          जहांतकलोकसभामेंकाँग्रेसपार्टीकेनेतामाननीयअधीररंजनजीकाप्रश्नहै,पहलीबाततोएस.ई.ज़ेड.फेलनहींहुआहै । एकतरफतोआपएस.ई.ज़ेड.कीक्रेडिटलेरहेहैंऔरदूसरीतरफआपबोलरहेहैंकिफेलहोगया ।…(व्यवधान)

श्रीअधीररंजनचौधरी: मैंनेडिज़ायर्डरिजल्ट्सकहा है । डिज़ायर्डरिजल्ट्सका मतलबफेल होनानहीं है ।…(व्यवधान)

श्रीपीयूषगोयल: अगरकुछफेल्योरहै,अगरडिज़ायर्डरिजल्टनहींआयातोपूरेतरीकेसेशतप्रतिशतगुनाहकाँग्रेसपार्टीनेकिया । इन्कमटैक्सकेसारेकंसेशंसविदड्रॉकिए ।…(व्यवधान)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : केवल माननीयमंत्रीजी कीबात रिकॉर्डमें जाएगी ।

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माननीयअध्यक्ष : अब मैंश्रीएन.के.प्रेमचन्द्रनजीद्वाराप्रस्तुतसांविधिकसंकल्पकोसभाकेसमक्षमतदानकेलिएरखताहूं ।

प्रश्नयहहै :

“कि यह सभा राष्ट्रपति द्वारा 2 मार्च, 2019 को प्रख्यापित विशेष आर्थिक जोन (संशोधन) अध्यादेश, 2019 (2019 का संख्याक 12) का निरनुमोदन करती है ।”   प्रस्ताव अस्वीकृत हुआ ।

 

माननीयअध्यक्ष : प्रश्नयहहै :

“कि विशेष आर्थिक जोन अधिनियम, 2005 में संशोधन करने वाले विधेयक पर विचार किया जाए ।”   प्रस्ताव स्वीकृत हुआ ।

 

माननीयअध्यक्ष : अब सभाविधेयकपरखंडवारविचारकरेगी ।

Clause 2             Amendment of Section 2 SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN (KOLLAM): I have given notice for two amendments in Clause 2, that is about trust or entity. My only subjective clause is that the trust should be a registered public trust having a minimum of 20 years of functional experience so that some control can be made on the trust. Otherwise, nobody knows the ultimate beneficiary of the trust.  I am moving Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Clause 2.

I beg to move:

     

Page 1, line 5,-- 

for “trust or any entity” substitute  “ ,registered public trust having a minimum of twenty years of functional experience”.                                      (1) Page 1, lines 7 and 8,--

for “trust or entity” substitute “registered public trust having a minimum of twenty years of functional experience”.                                                 (2)   माननीयअध्यक्ष : अब मैंश्री एन.के. प्रेमचन्द्रनद्वाराखंड 2में प्रस्तुतसंशोधनसंख्या1 और2 कोसभा केसमक्षमतदानके लिएरखता हूं ।

संशोधन मतदान के लिए रखे गए तथा अस्वीकृत हुए ।

माननीयअध्यक्ष : प्रश्नयहहै :

“किखंड 2 विधेयककाअंगबने ।” प्रस्ताव स्वीकृत हुआ ।

खंड 2 विधेयक में जोड़ दिया गया ।

खंड 3 विधेयक में जोड़ दिया गया ।

खंड 1, अधिनियमन सूत्र और विधेयक का पूरा नाम विधेयक में जोड़ दिया गया ।

       

माननीयमंत्रीजीप्रस्तावकरेंकिविधेयककोपारितकियाजाए ।

SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL: I beg to move:

“That the Bill be passed”.

माननीयअध्यक्ष : प्रश्नयहहै :

“किविधेयकपारितकियाजाए ।” प्रस्ताव स्वीकृत हुआ ।

   

माननीयअध्यक्ष:सदन कीकार्यवाहीकलगुरुवार,दिनांक 27 जून 2019 को सुबह 11 बजे तककेलिएस्थगितकीजातीहै ।