SEZ related land grabbing problems
SEZ or Special Economic zones, the sons of the former Essential Economic Zones have intensified a long drawn battle between agriculture & Industry. The government in its rapid drive to push forward economic reforms passed the SEZ Act 2015. Within a year and a half 220 sites were identified for SEZs.
The economic analysts and the government preach that these will give a great boost to exports both in the manufacturing & the service sector. Many Indian companies and MNCs have submitted their business proposals to the government concerning the development of SEZs.
But setting these zones requires carving out a big chunk of land traditionally used for agricultural purposes. This has made the road to SEZs quite difficult. The critics argue that agricultural land is necessary for our food security. Also there have been reports that land is being taken forcibly by the farmers or adequate compensation is not being paid to them. This has led to mass protests by the owners of the land & the local tribes. Political parties have also intensified it. The biggest episode was seen in West Bengal. The WB government had allotted about 997 acres of Singur district land to Tatas for setting up a small car plant. This will pave way for the industrialization of the state. Opposition parties along with local population have waged a furious battle with the state government, preaching that the land for the project was bought forcibly. Opposition leader Mamta Bannerjee also sat onto a fast unto death to pressurize the government to stop the project. Social activists Medha Patekar & Arundhati Roy also have joined the protests. The project had to be stopped several times as the protests grew louder. The government argues that out of total of 135 lakh acres of land under agriculture in the state only 1 lakh acre is required for Industrialization. Also it will greatly increase the GDP of the state. The government has thrown its doors for talks on the issue maintaining that this and other projects would go on. But the opposition has not accepted this condition. Protests have taken such a turn that 24- hour police security is being provided at the development site.
Not far away, Nandigram witnessed one of the most violent protests in the history of Indian democracy. The WB government had allotted the site for developing a chemical hub to the Salim Group of Indonesia. Again the same issue cropped up that land was being taken forcibly. As protests grew louder, the government resorted to oppressive moods. Heavy police deployment was made at Nandigram. The police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas to suppress the movement. But being unable, police resorted to heavy firing which killed at least 18 villagers. This episode shook the entire nation. The state government being caught unawares blamed it on the local administration. At once the force was called back and the site abandoned.
Not only West Bengal but other states are also facing many difficulties in executing the projects. Maharashtra for instance is facing many difficulties on the Reliance SEZ. The state government has allotted 10,000 hectares of land to Reliance. But the opposition has blamed that the government is incredulously playing into the hands of big business man and not taking care of the interests of the poorer section. Reliance is also facing many difficulties in buying the land from the labourers. The protests have forced the Central government to change its policy. The government has now laid out rules that first the company has to acquire 70% of the land by themselves and then the government would step in. also the limit for SEZs has been cut to 5,000 hectares from 10,000 hectares. But still there does not seem any end to the protests against these zones. Also it has made it mandatory for the companies to give a job to at least one member of each family whose land was taken along with adequate compensation in cash and kind.
Special Economic Zones can play a vital role in the economic development of the country. The government feels that these may boost up exports and India can capture up to 5% of the world trade. But to implement it effectively the government has to make it sure that every section of the society is benefited by it and adequate compensation has been provided to the land dwellers.
- Rahul Aggarwal
