In a bid to restrict arbitrary land acquisition, the policy will require the government to prepare a master plan for the SEZ based on a scientific land use map. "The purpose is to make a cost-benefit analysis of the land and crop loss that the government can replenish in the long run by improving the agricultural productivity through inputs such as irrigation, high yielding variety seeds and technology," a senior state official said.

"The policy won't be driven by cash compensation only. It will also have space for bargadars, recorded or unrecorded, and wage labourers ejected from the land. The policy will also address their security of livelihood," he added.

The draft SEZ policy also aims at setting up decentralised growth centres in the backward districts in North Bengal, Bankura and Purulia to prevent concentration of capital in a particular zone. With this in view, the government has already identified areas for setting up SEZs in south Bengal and won't entertain any fresh proposal for SEZs in this area.

"We will look for locations in the districts as well. Now the state will promote proposals for SEZs planned in other districts in North Bengal," state commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said.