SEZ meet to be stormy

MUMBAI: Expect some fireworks at the Cabinet committee meet on special economic zones (SEZs) in Maharashtra on Wednesday. Incidentally, rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam, the convenor of the meeting, is the head of the SEZ panel.

The deliberation assumes significance because it would look into the allegations of land acquisition for Navi Mumbai and Mahamumbai SEZs, sources told ET.

At the previous Cabinet meeting held last week, Mr Kadam, former industry minister, hit out at the revenue ministry led by Narayan Rane for what he said was rampant land acquisition for these two SEZs. The rehabilitation minister, who has never made secret of his ambition to be the CM, told the Cabinet that land acquisition was taking place despite a stay given by CM Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Curiously, Mr Rane was not present at the last cabinet meeting. This time, however, he is likely to be present in his capacity as a member of the Cabinet committee. “Mr Rane would certainly like to respond to the charges made by Dr Kadam at the meeting. He is not the kind of politician who would take things lying down,” a source said. Finance minister Jayant Patil and industry minister Ashok Chavan are also on the Cabinet panel which works as a screening committee for all SEZ proposals in the state. Dr Kadam also heads a rehabilitation committee for working out compensation package for people affected by SEZs.