Maharashtra wants SEZs to deposit rehab money

Sonia Gandhi's concern over Special Economic Zones has prompted at least one state to act tough.

The Maharashtra government has decided to ask all companies which are developing SEZs to deposit upfront 15 per cent of the total cost of rehabilitation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Rehabilitation Authority on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam.

This is perhaps the first time that any state government has come out with a clear policy on the SEZ land acquisition and rehabilitation of villagers.

SEZ promoters will also have to submit a rehabilitation plan before they can start land acquisition proceedings.

It was also decided that "apart from the land cost, all the components for the SEZ rehabilitation have to be the same across the state and there can't be any discrimination."

Elaborating on the point, a senior state government official who is a member of the authority, said, "Obviously the compensation that a farmer will get for his land in Panvel will be higher than that of a farmer in Aurangabad. But all other components like house and job to at least one member of the family or civic amenities that will be provided by SEZ promoters to villagers will have to be the same."

"However, no formula on rehabilitation package has been decided yet and we are in process of having dialogue with the SEZ promoters and representatives of villagers. It will take at least two to three months before we will come up with any package," he clarified.