The Hindu Business Line : ‘Govt only a facilitator in SEZ land deals’

Mumbai, Aug. 22 The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, said the Government would only facilitate land acquisition for special economic zones, which in any case has to be through direct negotiations between the developers and farmers.

Speaking at an international conference on SEZs, he said, “Please see that a good package is given to the farmers and try to make them stakeholders.” Mr Deshmukh said, adding that special provisions should be provided to developers setting up SEZs in backward areas such as Marathwada and Vidarbha, while pointing out that most SEZs in the State had come in the developed areas of the Konkan region.

“We would welcome investors with a red carpet and not red tape, and our objective is to be facilitators in the process,” he said.

Reacting to a demand for establishing ‘special educational zones’ on the lines of special economic zones, he said the Government would seriously consider it — creating common facilities on 200-500 acres for educational institutions — as industry and education should go together.

Mr Azees Khan, Principal Secretary, Industries, Maharashtra, said of the 131 SEZs approved, about 48 per cent were in the Konkan region, 34 per cent in Western Maharashtra, 11 per cent in Marathwada and 7 per cent in Vidarbha, and they would need an investment of Rs 1,35,000 crore.

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