Meanwhile, The Indian Express has learnt that the Department of Commerce decided to conduct a “staff inspection unit work” study at the Development Commissioner’s offices to measure work responsibilities and arrive at the optimal number of people required. Incidentally, the Parliamentary Committee report on SEZs’ functioning, released last week by its chairman Murli Manohar Joshi, lashed out about the shortage of staff in Development Commissionerates “particularly on the customs and central excise side”.

Pointing out that the Commerce Ministry’s proposals for creation of posts “got stuck” with the Ministry of Finance, the Panel said the “development pursuit of such gigantic proportions should not be left to the whims and fancies of the Ministry of Finance and miniscule financial considerations should not come in the way of creating posts in the SEZs”. In fact, the Panel suggested that in future, creation of posts and posting of officials be done along with the notification of an SEZ.