JD(U) flays govt for selling fertile land to SEZs

New Delhi, Sep 4 (UNI) The Janata Dal (United) today made a scathing attack on the UPA government for selling fertile agricultural land to big industrial houses for setting up Special Economic Zones, thereby threatening the food security and creating economic imbalance in the country and said it would hold a dharna on this issue on September 25.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav told the mediapersons here that already 150 SEZs have been permitted and 200 more are in the pipeline, mostly in the neighbourhood of Delhi and various state capitals. ''Fertile agricultural land is being grabbed by the vested interests with the help of the Central and some state governemnt, he said, adding that alreay one-fourth of the fertile land in the Doab region where the Green Revolution took place has been sold to big corporate houses.

Mukesh Ambani of the Reliance Industry has already got 25000 acres of land near Delhi and now the real estate giant DLF has also raised demand for 20,000 while the Anil Ambani group has already acquired huge track of land in Dadri and other parts of Uttar Pradesh, he pointed out.

''In the name of SEZ, the area of the Green Revolution is being grabbed by the land mafia and the governments are working as their property agents by facilitating the grab. This will not only cause the hardships to the farmers and other people but also destroy our food security. The second Green Revolution is yet to take place but the government is determined to destroy the foundation of the first,'' Mr Yadav said.

He said that even the Reserve Bank of India has suggested that SEZs were increasing economic imbalance resulting in mass migration of people causing social tensions in many part of the country.

Moreover, the policy of SEZs would dry up the government coffers as the units established there would get huge tax exemptions and production of non SEZs would move to SEZ areas to enjoy tax benefit.

''Besides, in view of the 'efficiency and honesty' of our tax and general administration, there is a major chance of products produced for export by SEZs coming back to Indian markets. Hence the purpose of promoting exports would be defeated and those units working outside SEZ areas would face closure due to their failure to compete with the cheap smuggled products of SEZs,'' Mr Yadav coutioned.

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