States must redraw master plans for SEZs

MAYUR SHEKHAR JHA & RAJAT GUHA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007 01:43:10 AM]

NEW DELHI: States will have to amend their respective master plans to
allow SEZs to take off. The rural development ministry has proposed that
the area notified for SEZs or large-scale industrial projects in a
state's master plan should not touch existing residential/dwelling units
of villagers.

The proposal may be included as a mandatory clause in the
resettlement-and-rehabilitation (R&R) policy being finalised by the
rural development ministry. This comes in the wake of the Nandigram
episode, which government sources say could have been avoided if the
West Bengal government had adhered to the R&R policy. The matter is
expected to come up for discussion at the next board of approvals (BoA)
meet.

"States currently do not have to do zoning of land at such a micro
level, and it is based on larger clusters. If the new policy is
implemented, it will help address the issue of resettlement," a senior
government official said.

Sources say the ministry's proposal is based on a factual comparison
between SEZ projects in Haryana and West Bengal. A survey by the R&R
department of Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corp
says farmers/landlords in the Jhajjar area had no issues selling off
agricultural land as long as they were not asked to leave their houses.
On the other hand, in Nandigram, a large chunk of land comprised
villagers' dwelling units. "While farmers seem convinced of better
monetary rewards and employment guarantee while selling farm land, the
idea of resettlement looks like a taboo," the official said.

The proposal will also check speculation on properties near upcoming
SEZs. "Property developers tend to jack up prices or plots falling near
SEZs," the official said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/States_must_redraw_master_plans_for_SEZs/articleshow/1813017.cms