Govt not acquiring land for SEZs: Deshmukh
The Maharashtra government says it has not acquired any land for a private SEZ developer anywhere in the state.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government made it clear on the floor of the assembly on Thursday that it has not acquired any land for a private SEZ developer anywhere in the state.
Responding to a debate on SEZs, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the government would not go beyond the purview of section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. At the same time, the government refused to either withdraw section 6 or stay its effective promulgation.
This clarification on section 6 is likely to quell the controversy surrounding the Maha Mumbai SEZ proposed by Reliance Industries in Raigad. The imposition of section 6 had been viewed as an attempt by the state government to take over agricultural land for industrial purposes and had triggered widespread protests among farmers in the region.
“The only exception to section 6, till it remains in force, is that the farmers and the developer willingly work out a mutually-accepted compromise. If this does not happen, section 6 will lapse after its due period as well as the project,” Mr Deshmukh said.
Earlier, revenue minister Narayan Rane told the House that section 6 did not mean that the government has acquired land or the farmers have parted with their land.
“It only means that the procedure under the Land Acquisition Act has come to the stage of fixing the cost of land, so that a compensation can be declared in case there is a compromise between the farmers and the developer,” Mr Rane said.
Mr Rane also assured the Opposition, in particular members who claimed that farmland was being acquired in Raigad, that the government would not go beyond section 6 until and unless all objections filed by the farmers are voluntarily withdrawn or the farmers willingly give their consent to the project.
“But we cannot withdraw or stay section 6 since it will revert back the entire process by one year,” Mr Rane said.
Industry minister Ashok Chavan said Maharashtra had to decide once and for all whether it wanted to continue with industrial growth to retain its position as the topmost investment destination in India. He said the government would appreciate concerns about labour laws in SEZs, while notifying the state Act on SEZs.
The Opposition had demanded that existing labour laws should not be totally exempt in SEZs. Mr Chavan also promised changes in the definition of ‘domicile’ to facilitate maximum employment for locals in SEZ units.
Currently, a person has to stay continuously at a place for 15 years to qualify for employment with the government or a government-sponsored agency. Mr Chavan said there would be a public debate on the issue, before the changes are made.
Responding to a debate on SEZs, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the government would not go beyond the purview of section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. At the same time, the government refused to either withdraw section 6 or stay its effective promulgation.
This clarification on section 6 is likely to quell the controversy surrounding the Maha Mumbai SEZ proposed by Reliance Industries in Raigad. The imposition of section 6 had been viewed as an attempt by the state government to take over agricultural land for industrial purposes and had triggered widespread protests among farmers in the region.
“The only exception to section 6, till it remains in force, is that the farmers and the developer willingly work out a mutually-accepted compromise. If this does not happen, section 6 will lapse after its due period as well as the project,” Mr Deshmukh said.
Earlier, revenue minister Narayan Rane told the House that section 6 did not mean that the government has acquired land or the farmers have parted with their land.
“It only means that the procedure under the Land Acquisition Act has come to the stage of fixing the cost of land, so that a compensation can be declared in case there is a compromise between the farmers and the developer,” Mr Rane said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr Rane also assured the Opposition, in particular members who claimed that farmland was being acquired in Raigad, that the government would not go beyond section 6 until and unless all objections filed by the farmers are voluntarily withdrawn or the farmers willingly give their consent to the project.
“But we cannot withdraw or stay section 6 since it will revert back the entire process by one year,” Mr Rane said.
Industry minister Ashok Chavan said Maharashtra had to decide once and for all whether it wanted to continue with industrial growth to retain its position as the topmost investment destination in India. He said the government would appreciate concerns about labour laws in SEZs, while notifying the state Act on SEZs.
The Opposition had demanded that existing labour laws should not be totally exempt in SEZs. Mr Chavan also promised changes in the definition of ‘domicile’ to facilitate maximum employment for locals in SEZ units.
ADVERTISEMENT
Currently, a person has to stay continuously at a place for 15 years to qualify for employment with the government or a government-sponsored agency. Mr Chavan said there would be a public debate on the issue, before the changes are made.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
