Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Land debate

This refers to the article "Compensation the key issue in the land debate" (Feb. 1). The Tata small car project in Singur has catapulted the issue of land acquisition to centre stage. In the name of forming Special Economic Zones, lands are being given at throwaway prices to corporates. That SEZs are coming up fast in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh testifies to this.

It is an irony that the parties ruling in these States are shedding crocodile tears over the Singur project. The manner in which the Left Front Government has handled the project should serve as a model for the Centre.

K. Ganesh,
Madurai

Issues such as the extent of land to be acquired and rehabilitation of displaced persons also need to be given due importance. A relook at the SEZ Act 2005 with a view to placing a ceiling on the extent of farmland that can be acquired is required. The West Bengal model of giving liberal compensation to not only owners of land but also to tenants is worth emulating. SEZ proposals should include rehabilitation of agricultural workers who stand to lose their jobs.

K. Lakshmanan,
Srirangam

Although the law provides for fair compensation for land acquisition, in reality it is ridiculously low. The process borders on daylight robbery, not by individuals but by the government itself. That is why there is a lot of objection to the takeover of private land. The article suggests a good, workable solution. It is important to take into consideration the personal loss experienced by the family parting with its property.

By the same token, if a State Government seeks to block the flow of water from a river to another State, the Centre should offer the State that stands to lose a huge project like sprinkler irrigation. In principle, the compensation offered should be much higher than the gain of the other party.

T.R. Kallapiran,
Tirunelveli

A lot has been said favouring and opposing the acquisition of agricultural land for setting up SEZs or industries. But one wonders why the government should intervene in the matter. Why should it act as a land broker at all? Farmers can be encouraged to form their own organisations and strike the best bargain or refuse to sell if they so decide.

It is strange that industrialists cry foul when the government interferes in matters close to their interests but prefer to cohabitate with it when it suits them.

P. Narasimhan,
Bangalore

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