Human Rights panel serves notice to govt on SEZs
From a political hot potato, Special Economic Zones have now become a human rights issue, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) serving a notice to the Centre over displacement of farmers due to land acquisition.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: From a political hot potato, Special Economic Zones have now become a human rights issue, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) serving a notice to the Centre over displacement of farmers due to land acquisition.
"Yes, it is true that the government has received a notice from the NHRC on a petition filed by an Andhra Pradesh resident on the issue of displacement of farmers because of land acquisition for various purposes, including SEZs," a senior official told PTI.
Special references have been made to the Tata Motor's controversial project at Singur in West Bengal and Polavaram irrigation dam in Andhra Pradesh.
Though both these projects are not SEZs, the NHRC notice covers land acquisition for various purposes including the tax-free zones.
Sources said the NHRC's communication to the government was also brought to the notice of Empowered Group of Ministers on SEZs headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The eGoM recently lifted the freeze on fresh approvals. SEZs proposed in Maharashtra would require maximum land area of over 65,000 hectares followed by West Bengal and Gujarat.
However, the land requirement for 234 SEZs formally approved would be 33,807 hectares of which 17,800 hectares are in the possession of various state industrial corporations. The rest of the land for these 234 proposals is in possession of promoters. The maximum number of formal approvals have been granted for SEZs in Maharashtra followed by Andhra Pradesh.
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