The Hindu Business Line : Medha Patkar-led group protests against SEZ

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Medha Patkar-led group protests against SEZ

Our Bureau

Pune Oct. 06

, `Radh karo radh karo, SEZ radh karo'. This was the chant rendered by about 500 farmers, workers, small scale industrial workers who took part in the morcha taken out in Pune by the special economic zone (SEZ) Virodhi Sangharsha Samiti.

The morcha led by the acitivist Ms Medha Patkar, has also given a memorandum to the District Collector, Mr Prabhakar Deshmukh on the recommendations of the samiti. The recommendations include total repeal of the SEZ Act and policy, stopping land acquisition process and to start irrigation to all the areas of SEZ.

According to the samiti leaders, 11 SEZs have been approved so far in the district. This includes the 3,000 hectares SEZ promoted by Mahindra & Mahindra in Karla, 7,500 hectares (Bharat Forge) in Rajgurunagar, 14,000 hectares (Reliance) in Raigad and 1,100 acres in Mann (the phase IV of the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi in Pune). They noted that six of the SEZs were being promoted by various real estate majors.

Mr Sanjay Sangvai of the Samiti noted that the Left parties as also the trade unions have decided to oppose the SEZ and have requested for the review of the SEZ clauses. He said the first step in this direction was to stop all the land acquisition processes and return all the land back to the farmers. "The farmers have also resolved not to give any land for SEZ development," he said.

Ms Medha Patkar, giving her support to the morcha, has said "the struggle has only begun. It will go on in phases. All the farmers should unite together for this cause and the political parties including the Left should come together for helping the farmers in their just cause. And if the SEZs are going to mushroom across the country, there is no point in conducting agitation in a corner of the country." So far the morcha has been taken out in Khed, Penn, Pune and would be taken out at other places, she said.

Ms Patkar added that the correct information about SEZ had not been given out while noting that "once the land acquisition was carried out, how they would provide jobs to farmers or their families when they are not literate, is also not clear".

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