SEZ board takes tough stand on land acquisition

Given the huge interest in corporate India to climb on to the special economic zone bandwagon, the inter-ministerial Board of Approvals for such zones has taken a tough stance on the issue of land acquisition.

The board, in a meeting earlier this month, asked the Maharashtra government to take a second look at the land being acquired for the 10,000-hectare SEZ of Reliance Industries Ltd in Mumbai.

The empowered group of ministers on SEZs, which is meeting tomorrow to allow more zones, could consider a ban of one to two years on setting up of more information technology zones. Out of 150 zones approved so far, over 70 are in the IT sector.

"The board has received some representations from the locals who are going to be displaced due to the RIL zone. It has told the state government to ensure that minimum people are displaced and put to any hardship on account of the zone," a senior government official said.

The state government representative at the board meeting pointed out that the zone had been cleared by the state Cabinet. The board extended the in-principle clearance to the zone by a year since the earlier approval, valid for three years, had expired.

The board also questioned the Tamil Nadu government on the use of double-cropped land for an SEZ. "The board had received a representation from the farmers in Hosur that double-cropped land was being was used for an SEZ. The government informed the board that only single cropped or barren land would be used," an official said.

A spokesperson for Reliance Industries Ltd said the Maharashtra government was acquiring land for the MahaMumbai SEZ, which is now called the Mumbai SEZ, in Raigad district.

"The government of Maharashtra is in the process of acquiring land from people in 45 villages in Uran, Pen and Panvel talukas in Raigad district. A few months ago, the state issued a notification in the local newspapers under the Land Acquisition Act, 1884, and the process is under way," the spokesperson said.

"We would like reaffirm that no individual would be displaced due to the Mumbai SEZ as far as possible. On the contrary, the Goathans (structure of the village as it exists today) are being retained to ensure there is no displacement," he added.