Maharashtra wants SEZs to deposit rehab money

Makarand Gadgil / Mumbai October 14, 2006

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.

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