Reliance Industries which is developing special Economic Zone (SEZ) over 10,000 hectares on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai in Raigad District has decided to challenge the state government's decision to hold referendum in 22 villages which will be getting irrigated by the Hetavane dam.
The petition to this effect was filed by the Mumbai SEZ Pvt. Ltd. in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday. It may be recalled that, earlier last week, district collector of the Raigad, Vinayak Nipun announced to hold referendum in these 22 villages which cover nearly half of the area of SEZ on whether farmers from these villages want SEZ or not.
The state government was forced to take the step to hold referendum in these villages, following indefinite hunger strike by veteran Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader N D Patil to press the demand to exclude these 22 villages from the SEZ project as under SEZ act, one can not acquire land which is irrigated.
When contacted MSEZPL's spokesman refused to comment on the development and share the details of the petition filed by the company.