SEZ on the back foot in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government's decision to stay the land acquisition process for the Videocon's special economic zone (SEZ) on the outskirts of Pune is likely to adversely affect the land acquisition process for other SEZs in the state, feel senior state government officials.

Videocon-promoted two SEZs at Aurangabad and Wagholi, Pune, require over 2,500 hectare and 1,000 hectare, respectively.

Of the 450 SEZs planned in the country, nearly 120 are coming up in Maharashtra. Of these, six are multi-product SEZs and the land acquisition for the same is turning out to be a huge challenge for the government.

The state government has maintained that it would not go for forcible acquisition of land, which requires 10,000 hectares, Mahindra & Mahindra's SEZ at Karle in Pune district, on over 1,000 hectare, Bharat Forge's SEZ at Rajgurunagar in Pune district and India Bulls-promoted SEZ in Pen and Alibaug talukas of Raigad district.

Speaking to Business Standard, Vaishali Patil, spokesperson of the Anti Mahamumbai SEZ Action Committee, said, "We feel this is a victory of farmers' unity and an inspiring lesson for other farmers, whose land is being acquired for SEZs. We will intensify our agitation to force the state government to denotify the land for the Mumbai SEZ as well."