SEZ rehab package is a mirage to farmers

Special Economic Zone has become a talk of the town today across the country. In Raigad district alone 30 thousand acre land will be acquired by Reliance, from farmers under the SEZ project and subsequent to SEZ- Reliance gas pipe line run under ground the paddy-field (land) of more than 450 farmers in Karjat tahsil alone, which adversely affects their substinence. Thousands of poor farmers will be stripped of their cultivable land at the cost of livelihood. Political leaders and social activists are pulling a big crowd, rally the farmers to raise their voice against the special economic zone project and its possible ill consequences.

When a central committee of parliament members, from New Delhi were scheduled to visit the affected farmers to know their consensus/consent regarding to the SEZ project, there was a hue and cry of the event. It is also learnt that Reliance group were pulling all strength together to prevent the project stricken farmers from seeking audience with the committee members. Despite being in turmoil, farmer’s delegation called on the central committee of parliament member on 14th of February here at Mumbai , MIDC head-quarters.

If political leaders and social activists justify the needs of the farmers, then they should come up with comprehensive plan to venture together to save the farmers from the clutches of Raliance, irrespective of their political parties, organizations, discriminations, or so called policies. Once SEZ (industry) is established in Raigad, no one would dare to root out them. So this is the right time now to protest by all possible means.

Raigad already has become a dumping ground of chemical effluents as almost all rivers became polluted from the chemical wastage, which drained into the rivers and the seas, has caused a great damage to the fisher-folk, almost brought them on the verge of starvation. Even the drinking water sources of the villages falling along the pipelines such as wells, bore-wells, and other reservoirs have also been contaminated due to leakage of chemical effluents at various places and hundreds of acre fertile, paddy field land has lost its fertility.

The package declared by the central government for the bereaved families of farmers who have committed suicides due to huge debts, could not reach the families, yet in Vidharbha, is an eye opening example need not to remind the people of Maharashtra. How can one expect the rehabilitation package announced by the SEZ authorities justify the poor farmers of Raigad?

Secondly, we do not know the mode and procedures of payments. Government have no direct or indirect control over the SEZ ! Who will redress the grievances of the worker if employed at SEZ industries ? How many employee will get permanent jobs ? We are totally blind and unaware of the hidden agendas or terms/conditions of SEZ project.

I would urge and appeal to the non-residential Indian who originally belong to Raigad to contribute their views and raise their voice of protest to save the district from growing menace of pollution and industrialization.

Raigad has a potential to be a better tourist spot rather than industrial destination as district has bestowed with a beautiful sea beaches or coastal belt from Alibag to Murud and Shrivardhan. Forts of Alibag Murud- Janjjira and Mahad are worth seeing historical places. Pali, Revdanda, Mahad and other such places can be a good pilgrimage and tourist places, if developed.. This will also prevent pollution and protect the environment.

IMPORTANT: 1) Central SEZ bill was introduced on May 10, 2005 and passed by both Houses of Parliament on May 12,2005.

2) India, in just one year 181 SEZs have been cleared,128 others have in principle approval.

3) There are only 400 SEZ in the world and China has only 6





S P NAVKAR
Social Worker & Freelance Journalist
spnavkar@rediffmail.com