The Centre has asked the Maharashtra government to reduce the size of the Reliance Industries-promoted Mahamumbai SEZ as it involves acquisition of over 10,000 hectares of land and displacement of a large number of people.
A recommendation to this effect was made to the state government at a Board of Approval (BoA) meeting held around six months back, a commerce ministry official said, adding that it was up to the state government to take a decision.
State Industry Secretary V K Jairath said, "We will go by whatever minimum and maximum ceiling is put in place by the central government on the size of SEZs."
A spokesperson for the Reliance SEZ project denied receiving any communication from either the Centre or the state government on reduction in the size of the Mahamumbai SEZ.
Senior BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya said the issue exposed the hypocrisy of the Congress party. "While the Congress President is shedding tears for farm land being acquired by SEZs, the state government, in which her party is a partner, doesn't listen to the Centre's advice," he said.
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