Maharashtra plans farmers’ rehabilitation package in SEZs

 
SANJAY JOG      
 
 
MUMBAI, SEPT 25:  Even before Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the manner in which agriculture land was acquired to set up special economic zones (SEZs), the Congress-led government in Maharashtra was in the midst of finalising a comprehensive rehabilitation package for farmers. Under the special package, land acquisition will be done at market rate. It will also provide exgratia payment to farmers apart from market rate, will create social infrastructure for projected affected people and provide training to farmers to tackle the problem of unemployment.
The package, once approved by the state government, will be applicable to all 45 SEZs, approved by the Centre so far. Of 45 SEZs, the Maha Mumbai SEZ near Mumbai by Navi Mumbai SEZ, a project of Reliance Industries Ltd, has been in the news for receiving strong opposition from local villagers and the Left parties for taking over fertile lands.

The Bharat Forge, Mahindra & Mahindra and other SEZs, to be developed by the state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, will also have to implement the proposed package.

A committee headed by state rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam will meet on Tuesday to give finishing touch to the proposed rehabilitation package.

“MIDC has already roped in non-government organisations and Tata Institute of Social Sciences to do exhaustive studies to assess social and economic impact of SEZ development in areas where such projects will come up. MIDC has also launched a massive awareness drive among farmers to remove their doubts. MIDC will provide plot to the project affected people at the concessional rate to start their own activity during the SEZ development,” a government functionary told FE.

Two Steps Ahead
The state will...
• Acquire lands for SEZs at market price
• Provide exgratia payment to farmers
• Develop social infrastructure for the affected
• Provide training to tackle unemployment
The package...
• Once approved by the state will apply to 45 all SEZs
• Also to be provided by MIDC for developing SEZs
The finetuning...
• Of sops will be done by a panel headed by state rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam on Tuesday
 
Sources said Bharat Forge, which has recently inked an MoU with the government for the development of SEZ in Pune district, has agreed to upgrade the Industrial Technical Institute (IIT) in the the area and provide funds. Similarly, M&M will train locals through its technical and vocational education institute.

Meanwhile, the committee would also consider suggestions made by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on the payment of compensation to farmers whose lands would be acquired for SEZ projects.

Pawar has advocated that farmers should be adequately compensated for the agriculture lands acquired by the governments for setting up SEZs. This apart, he has strongly emphasised the need for providing some share, at least 12.5% of the developed land, to farmers.
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