The Hindu Business Line : Return SEZ land, we’ll put it up: Pune farmers to Govt

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Return SEZ land, we’ll put it up: Pune farmers to Govt

SPELL OF MAGARPATTA MAGIC

Alka Kshirsagar

Pune, Oct. 12 Farmers from four villages near Pune have wisened up to the potential of sustained rather than lump-sum, non-agro income from their land holdings. They are pushing for revocation of the Videocon-promoted Special Economic Zone in the area, and de-notification of 5,000-acres of acquired land, so that they can develop it themselves.

The guiding force for the emergence of the Do-it-Yourself spirit is the runaway success of Magarpatta City, a similar enterprise that lies in their backyard at Hadapsar. Here, some seven years ago, 120 farmer families pooled small land holdings totalling 430 acres, and formed a company to develop what is now a prestigious address for several corporate clients.

For Magarpatta’s 800 stakeholders, there is an assurance of continued returns. Both as a percentage of profits accruing from the lease of the developed land, and dividends pro rata to their original holdings, whose value has soared from Rs 20 lakh per acre in 2000 to around Rs 4 crore today.

It may be recalled that in May this year, the farmers from the four villages of Wagholi, Bakori, Lonikand and Kesnand had protested vociferously against the appearance of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s name on the land ownership documents. The land was being acquired ostensibly for an SEZ promoted by the electronic giant Videocon.

A few days ago, a delegation representing the interests of 1,000-odd farmers met Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister. “Mr Pawar assured us that MIDC’s name would be removed from the documents, and the SEZ in this area cancelled,” said Mr Vilas Lande, member of the State Legislative Assembly and an affected farmer as well. According to him, Mr Pawar spoke to the Industries Secretary, Mr V.K. Jairath to initiate the de-notification procedure, and a decision on the issue would emerge at a meeting with Mr Pawar scheduled for November 2.

While government officials are watching the developments with interest, and speculating at what level the de-notification decision will be taken, the State Industries Minister, Mr Ashok Chavan, denied all knowledge about the issue, including the farmers’ reluctance to part with the land. “Mr Jairath should have briefed me, but he has not told me anything so far,” he said.

Though, it is clear that the process has not been put into motion as yet, one government official said: “Once a decision is taken and notified, removing the MIDC’s name from the records will take a week.” Meanwhile, amongst the invitees for the November 2 meeting is Mr Satish Magar, the entrepreneur behind the Magarpatta story. “I don’t know what role I can play,” he said, but noted that the farmers’ decision to develop barren land themselves was both “logical” and a case of “natural justice.”

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