To deal with SEZ issue when land acquisition rules are drafted: Jairam Ramesh

CHANDIGARH: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said he faced queries from many states regarding the fate of land acquired for denotified SEZ, and assured he would try to deal with this issue when rules are drafted for new law on land acquisition.

"What will happen to the land when a SEZ has been declared denotified and what will happen if the land bought for SEZ has been used for some other purpose...I cannot answer today. Whether that land will be returned to farmer I also cannot answer this.

"I admit that this is problem I am facing whenever I visit states and questions are asked what will happened to the land after a SEZ is denotified," Ramesh told reporters here.

But he said, "I will try to deal with this issue when rules for the law are drafted."

Ramesh said: "...but I can say if SEZ is five year old and majority of farmers have not accepted compensation, then compensation under new law will be implemented and where physical possession has not be taken then also new law will be implemented."

However, Ramesh said that in future if land is acquired for setting up SEZ then new rules of new law will be implemented on land acquisition.

Expressing concern over the mushrooming of SEZ across the state, he said SEZs have turned into real estate trade.

"SEZs turned into real estate trade across all the states. Lakhs of acres were acquired in the name of setting up SEZ," he noted adding that in future now, people would not be able to carry out real estate activity under the garb of SEZ.

As per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, the compensation for land acquired has been enhanced by four times in rural areas and two times in urban areas.

President Pranab Mukherjee today gave assent to this new law, Ramesh said while observing that the new law would lead to less public protests on the issue of land acquisition and will also curb effect of "Maoists" in states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.

"President today gave his nod to this new law. In next one month, the rules pertaining to the law will be made and in next 2-3 months, a decision will be taken on the date of its notification," Ramesh said.