The commerce ministry today hinted that the 5,000-hectare cap on the land size of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) could be relaxed.

"For the moment, there is a ceiling on the size of zones. Should an SEZ proposal come up in the future that looks at an area larger than the cap, the government will be willing to look at it," said Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.

An empowered group of ministers had effected on April 5 major changes in SEZ rules, also setting the 5,000 hectare cap. The move came in the backdrop of violent protests against the acquisition of land for such zones, especially at places like Nandigram in West Bengal.