The Hindu : National : Raigad ryots begin fast against Reliance SEZ

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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Raigad ryots begin fast against Reliance SEZ

Special Correspondent

“Revoke notification on land acquisition”

Land acquisition in 45 villages despite protests
Protesters demand probe into private land dealings

MUMBAI: Farmers protesting Reliance Group’s Mahamumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Raigad district have gone on an indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday at Pen to demand immediate withdrawal of the government notification acquiring land for the project.

Despite widespread protests against the SEZ located in three taluks of Raigad district, the Government has gone ahead and completed the process of land acquisition in 45 villages by issuing notices under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, according to Vaishali Patil of the Action Committee of 24 villages Against the SEZ.

Ms. Patil and other activists and farmers are on a hunger strike to demand that 22 villages which are in the command area of Hetawane dam in Pen taluk be removed from the SEZ plan. Under government rules once a land is set aside for another project, it cannot be acquired. However, in the case of the Hetawane dam, farmers have been pointing out this anomaly to the government with no results. The protesters are also demanding an inquiry into the private land dealings in the area and the fake sale deeds issued to some farmers.

Senior Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader N.D. Patil and Vivek Patil MLA addressed the protesters.

Some time ago, a memorandum listing the demands of the people was submitted to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, but there was no response. Apart from Ms. Patil, another activist Ulka Mahajan and local leaders Dilip Patil and Kashinath Patil are on a fast. The Maharashtra Government had decided to complete the process of land acquisition after it issued notices last year to the 45 villages falling under the project. While farmers filed objections to the project, these were overlooked.

Fair deal favoured

However, the Union Government has clearly stated that the farmers must withdraw their objections before the final award is declared.

It has also said that farmers must get a fair deal.

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