Confusion over Mahamumbai SEZ

A statement issued by State Minister for Co-operatives and Rehabilitation Patangrao Kadam seems to have added to the confusion over Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's orders to halt the acquisition of land for the Reliance Industries-promoted Mahamumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Kadam, who also heads the state cabinet's committee on rehabilitation policy for farmers whose lands are being acquired for SEZs, said in the statement: "After a meeting with social activist Medha Patkar during the recent winter session of the State Assembly in Nagpur, the CM issued an order that land acquisition for all SEZs should be stopped till the rehabilitation policy and the compensation package is finalised."

The issue of putting on hold the land acquisition for Mahamumbai SEZ was discussed in this backdrop at the last cabinet meeting, Kadam added.

At Wednesday's cabinet sub-committee meeting, a secretary to the state government pointed out that the order was oral and not in writing.

When contacted, the CM's office refused to clarify exactly what order was given and what was its current status.

Mahamumbai SEZ officials, however, said that land acquisition was going on as planned as there was no instruction by the government to stop the process.