TDP for white paper on SEZs

Special Correspondent

Governments accused of acting as "real estate brokers"

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam party has demanded a white paper on the
"indiscriminate" sanction of Special Economic Zones.

Addressing a press conference, TDP leaders R. Chandrasekhara Reddy and
S. Venugopala Chary accused the Centre and the State Governments of
acting as "real estate brokers" in pushing through the SEZs. Real estate
interests weighed heavily more than anything else in clearing these
SEZs, as land was being acquired at low rates from farmers and passed on
to groups close to ruling parties.

They said both the Governments seem to be least concerned about the
impact it would have on agriculture, especially in the context of India
importing wheat from other countries. "If they have any concern left for
agriculture, they would review the policy," they added. They appealed to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is visiting the State on October 26,
to take a re-look at these sanctions, which they said were in violation
of the norms evolved at the meeting of the Congress Chief Ministers at
Nainital recently.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/25/stories/2006102504610400.htm