INLD demands cancellation of SEZ deal with Reliance

Fatehabad, Aug 1 (UNI) Former Haryana Minister and INLD leader Sampat Singh today demanded immediate cancellation of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) deal with the Reliance Industries saying ''it was detrimental to the interests of the people of Haryana''.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Sampat Singh said that neither he nor his party, the INLD, were against the development of SEZs in the state. ''But the manner in which the interests of the farmers had been mortgaged in the hands of Mr Mukesh Ambani of the Reliance Industries was not acceptable'', he said.

The INLD leader said the previous government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala had acquired 1400 acres of land at Gurgaon for the purpose of developing a SEZ through the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC). But the present government had decided to give that land to the Reliance at throwaway prices.

Terming the deal as a ''big scam'' which could touch Rs one lakh crore, he said ane of the major anomaly was that the HDIDC had recently sold about 4 acres of land near this site for Rs 289.50 crore after development, but the government was going to provide 1400 acres of land to the Reliance Industries for almost the same price of about Rs 289.00 Crore.

He also dismissed as ''false'' the claims of the government regarding generating 10 lakh employment and massive revenue, saying that the companies coming up in the SEZ would be exempted from all kind of taxes and duties and hence there was no question of the state earning any revenue from it.

Mr Sampat Singh alleged the state government had been bending too much backwards to help out Mr Ambani. He said the move of the state government to keep some equity in the venture was also aimed at helping the Reliance Company because in case the SEZ was developed solely by a private party, the developer had to arrange for 75 per cent of the land through its own efforts and the state government could step in only for the remaining 25 per cent of land by way of acquisition.

But the venture, where the government was one of the parties, this condition was waived and the government could acquire the entire land required for this purpose.

The INLD leader called Mr Mukesh Ambani ''a share broker and not an industrialist'' who was only interested in hiking the prices of his shares by such deals. He said that the Reliance Industries does not have any expertise in developing SEZs so there was no point in giving the project to it.

Mr Sampat Singh also demaded that the MoU signed with the company should be cancelled forthwith and the land already acquired be given to the HSIDC for development of the SEZ.

He said in case the government found the HSIDC incompetent to develop the SEZ, the land should be given back to its owners or be sold through open auction.

UNI XC JN MSJ VV1743