Must have trust of people: Mukesh on referendum

MUMBAI: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has welcomed the idea of a referendum on whether farmers are willing to sell their land for a Special Economic Zone promoted by him.

"We must have the trust of people," Ambani told Editors' during an interaction coinciding with the beginning of the referendum this morning at neighbouring Raigad district.

Ambani has planned a multi-product SEZ on 10,000 hectares of land in the Konkan region. It is expected to attract an investment of nearly Rs one lakh crore.

"Referendum (on RIL's Navi Mumbai SEZ) is a good thing," he said.

Twenty-two villages will take part in the in referendum process.

Ever since the Reliance group initiated steps for procurement of land, anti-SEZ activists led by veteran PWP leader N D Patil launched an agitation in the region.

Taking cognisance of the agitation, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had assured the activists that the state government will withdraw itself from the land acquisition process.

Deshmukh had assured Patil in July that the government will seek the opinion of those residing in 22 villages in the command area of the Hetwane dam whether they are willing to part with their land for the project.

It has been decided to get the opinion of villagers in writing tomorrow. Raigad collector Nipun Vinayak has identified 23 zilla parishad schools in the 22 villages, which would be used as sort of 'polling booths' for the referendum.