The government of India is still in dilemma on the policy of Special economic Zones (SEZs) policy whether the policy should be continued or not with current terms and conditions. However, the farmers and landowners in rural India have openly criticized and violently protested against the land acquisition process applied by the state governments in many states.
The recent March 14 violence in Nandigram, West Bengal, has forced the central as well as state government to roll back the SEZ plan in the region. The Union government is planning to hold discussion with ministers and CMs of various states over the continuation of the SEZ policy.
On the other hand, the Maharashtra Government has denied Centre’s proposal to reduce the size of Reliance Industries’ Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone in Maharashtra. The Ruling Congress party has warned of a burst out violence such as Nandigram violence that had happened in West Bengal.
The Indian Express has quoted a statement made by any official source, who said that the Central government has received the reply from the Maharashtra Government on this matter. The state government has clearly stated that it would be impossible to reverse the decision of state Cabinet that had approved the size of the Reliance SEZ in Maharashtra.
Earlier, the Union government had written a letter to the state government and suggested to downsize the proposed SEZ from 10,000 hectares to 5,000 hectares in Raigad district.
Later, a Maharashtra Congress panel had prepared a report on the ground realities regarding the impact of creating SEZ in Raigad. The panel had warned the state government about farmers’ unrest that was brewing up because of the large-scale land acquisition by Reliance.
Despite of warning given by the fact-finding panel and suggestion given by the central government, the Maharashtra government has decided not to reduce the allowing 10,000 hectares to Maha Mumbai SEZ.
Now, the Central government is getting feared for another farmers’ outburst in Raigad and asking the state government to think over it again.
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