Few experts will be able to explain as to why a whopping 1,10,000 hectares of land is required for 237 SEZs (63 already notified and 162 approved-in-principle).The large area of land being acquired under the state patronage as though for a public utility will arouse suspicion even in a naïve citizen . Under the garb of SEZs land sharks may be out in the market to usurp fertile land to convert into profitable realty. Astonishingly, even the IT companies seek acres of prized property from the overzealous state governments for a song.
What is at the crux of the matter in the SEZs is the conspicuous absence of clarity on the acquisition process of land. Surprisingly, the left parties, who were hitherto the vocal supporters of the LAND FOR TILLERS slogan, have suddenly become the ardent vocalists of the SEZs and the supporters of the investors, who are rank capitalist in their original ideology. The media too have been toeing the SEZ agenda in an openly partisan way forgetting the journalistic moral duties towards the dispensable citizens of this country. Already a whopping 213 lakhs Indians have been displaced between 1951 and 1990 as per some conservative figures to make way for mines, dams, industries and wildlife sanctuaries. The concerned authorities may find it difficult to reply the question as to how many more dispensable citizens have to make way for this 1,10,000 hectares of land required for 237 SEZs in the pipe line.
The SEZ promoters must not be given even any unintended gain in the acquiring process but may be encouraged to deal with the land-owners directly at the market prices rather thn the state acquiring the land below the market rates giving room for suspicion. The SEZ imbroglio can be replied only if the displaced citizens are suitably rehabilitated and made the joint stake-holders in the development of the thus acquired land for SEZ in order to make the ongoing Liberalisation inclusive.
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There are considerable numbers of cases where villagers have been paid for grabbing their fertile land at a negligible price by agents operating for and on behalf of large industrial enterprises. The monetary considerations are far below the economic
considerations. The money received by the farmers appear to be lucrative because they have never seen such a large amount before. After a short period of unexpected joy and pleasure, they land up as workers to whom they had sold their valuable land, and in return receive daily wages hardly sufficient for their alcoholic drinks. This is a fact prevailing some of the adjoining regions of the city of Pune.
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