States must redraw master plans for SEZs

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.