<b>SEZ Row</b>: Forcible land buy is not on: Kalam

Amidst a raging controversy over the acquisition of farm land for industry, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said no force should be used to take land from cultivators.

"Any industrialist should discuss with the farmers. Unless they (farmers) agree to give their land, it should not be taken. It (land transfer) should be a mutual concern...There should not be any clash and no force can be used (to acquire land)," Kalam said at the Raj Bhawan here.

The President, who was on a brief visit here, was asked if he supported the acquisition of farm land for industries.

Noting that there two types of land, cultivable and dry, he said discussions should be held for acquiring cultivable land.

Kalam, however, said problems were bound to arise if any one wanted to take up some activity. "Tell me one area where there is no problem," he told the questioner.

"If you don't do any work, there would be no problem. But problems should not defeat you, rather you defeat the problem," he said.

Earlier, addressing members of the Meghalaya assembly, he called for setting up three SEZs in the state to generate additional revenues of Rs 2,500 crore and create 25,000 employment opportunities.