Govt may return Raigad SEZ land

The state cabinet may soon take a decision to return the 1,505-hectare land acquired by promoters of Mumbai special economic zone (MSEZ) project back to the farmers.

The state cabinet may soon take a decision to return the 1,505-hectare land acquired by promoters of Mumbai special economic zone (MSEZ) project back to the farmers.

HT Image

Approved in 2005, the 35,000-acre project in Raigad, is a joint initiative of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and Jai Corp. It was scrapped in February.

“The company had provided packages to farmers under which they acquired the land. We will arrange a meeting in the state cabinet on the issue. The final decision will not go against the farmers,” deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said in the Legislative Council.

“Till now only 1,505-hectare of land directly acquired from farmers is with them. According to the law, SEZ land cannot be used for any other purpose,” minister of state for industries Prakash Solanke said.

Deputy chairman of the council, Vasant Davkhare, pointed to a similar case near Pune where Reliance gas had laid pipelines below farmers’ lands. A few are yet to get compensation, he said.