Medha Patkar-led group protests against SEZ

Our Bureau

Pune Oct. 06

, `Radh karo radh karo, SEZ radh karo'. This was the chant rendered by
about 500 farmers, workers, small scale industrial workers who took part
in the morcha taken out in Pune by the special economic zone (SEZ)
Virodhi Sangharsha Samiti.

The morcha led by the acitivist Ms Medha Patkar, has also given a
memorandum to the District Collector, Mr Prabhakar Deshmukh on the
recommendations of the samiti. The recommendations include total repeal
of the SEZ Act and policy, stopping land acquisition process and to
start irrigation to all the areas of SEZ.

According to the samiti leaders, 11 SEZs have been approved so far in
the district. This includes the 3,000 hectares SEZ promoted by Mahindra
& Mahindra in Karla, 7,500 hectares (Bharat Forge) in Rajgurunagar,
14,000 hectares (Reliance) in Raigad and 1,100 acres in Mann (the phase
IV of the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi in Pune). They noted
that six of the SEZs were being promoted by various real estate majors.

Mr Sanjay Sangvai of the Samiti noted that the Left parties as also the
trade unions have decided to oppose the SEZ and have requested for the
review of the SEZ clauses. He said the first step in this direction was
to stop all the land acquisition processes and return all the land back
to the farmers. "The farmers have also resolved not to give any land for
SEZ development," he said.

Ms Medha Patkar, giving her support to the morcha, has said "the
struggle has only begun. It will go on in phases. All the farmers should
unite together for this cause and the political parties including the
Left should come together for helping the farmers in their just cause.
And if the SEZs are going to mushroom across the country, there is no
point in conducting agitation in a corner of the country." So far the
morcha has been taken out in Khed, Penn, Pune and would be taken out at
other places, she said.

Ms Patkar added that the correct information about SEZ had not been
given out while noting that "once the land acquisition was carried out,
how they would provide jobs to farmers or their families when they are
not literate, is also not clear".

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/07/stories/2006100703961900.htm