"SEZs could be set up in barren land"

Special Correspondent

Chief Ministers' meet will discuss on land acquisition

NEW DELHI: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said
there was sizeable barren land in the country that could be chosen for
development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

At a press conference, Mr. Pawar said there were no two opinions on
selecting locations (for SEZs) that would not affect productive
agricultural land or farmers' livelihood.

Quoting a survey, he said a many farmers did not want to continue with
farming on their land.

``This indicates that they would shift to non-agricultural sector that
would have to be encouraged. We have to encourage industrialisation and
service sector to accommodate them.''

However, food security was equally important and governments had to
ensure that agricultural production was not adversely affected.

The issue of acquisition of land for SEZs would be discussed at the
Chief Ministers' conference in February. The agenda was to finalise the
11th Plan for agriculture.

Suicides

On suicides by farmers, he said, while such incidents had come down in
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, there was a marked increase in the
Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, as indicated by the high loan
disbursement amount, which had gone up to Rs. 1,800 crore, against Rs
700 crore last year.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122107631300.htm