Rehabilitation dept clearance `must' for SEZs in Maharashtra

Our Bureau

Bid to protect interests of affected farmers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priority will be given to non-agricultural land for setting up of SEZs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pune , Nov. 12

Before initiating steps for setting up special economic zones (SEZ) in
the State, permission would have to be taken by all departments. This is
the directive which has been sent out by the Rehabilitation Department.

Talking to presspersons, Dr, Patangrao Kadam, State Co-operation and
Rehabilitation Minister as also the Chairman of the Cabinet
Sub-Committee on SEZ, noted that about 71 SEZs had been proposed in the
State, but no steps including acquiring land could be initiated without
the permission of the Rehabilitation Department.

He also stated that the department would study all the SEZ proposals
separately and permission would be given to departments to initiate
action only after the rehabilitation of the affected people was completed.

The department has also written to the Industries Department to submit a
detailed report on the status of the proposed SEZs. "We will ensure that
the interests of the project-affected farmers are safeguarded by giving
them proper returns for their land. Priority will be given to
non-agricultural land for setting up of SEZs'' he said.

Asked about the Reliance SEZ in Navi Mumbai, he said the matter has been
discussed with the industrial group and a decision would be taken only
after the opinion of the villagers were obtained.

Asked about the Vaidyanathan Committee report, Dr Kadam said the
Government would be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Nabard on Monday for revitalising the over 20,000 co-operative
structures in the State. This is as per the committee recommendations.

The committee has proposed a Rs. 14,000-crore revitalisation package for
the co-operative structures in the country.

He noted that once the MoU was signed, over 20,000 co-operatives
structures, which included 31 district central co-operative banks and
the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, would be the beneficiaries.
These institutions would be able to write off the loan outstandings to
the tune of Rs. 2,000 crore, he said.

Dr. Kadam, commenting on the waiver of loans to farmers in the Vidarbha
region, said: "Until the loan given to farmers is waived, there will be
no solution to the issue of farmers suicides. The State Government has
taken steps to waive the interest to loans distributed to the farmers
but they are not sufficient.''

The Government has decided to give loans to farmers at six per cent
interest, he said adding that it has given loans of Rs. 4,100 crore.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111301981500.htm