'Takeover of land for SEZs should be on market price'

Dehradun, Sep 8: Taking a middle path on the controversial acquisitions of agricultural lands for housing the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the BJP today said any takeover of the irrigated lands should be at market price and offer a stake for the people who are dispossessed of their lands in the development.

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who piloted a resolution on farm front and food security on the second day of BJP National Executive, said the party was in favour of more SEZs coming up but these should not be in places where irrigation development had taken place.

Taking over of agricultural land should be the last resort if no other land is available for planned development of industries, he said.

He said there were complaints about government acquiring lands for the private SEZ developers. Farmers losing lands should be made partners in development and their children should be provided with educational opportunities and jobs. They should get housing facilities in the area.

Asked about the protests against acquisition of land in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Naidu said he would not comment on individual projects. ''We have made our mind on the SEZ policy known,'' he remarked.

Asked about the party's position on contract farming, Mr Naidu said the BJP had no objections if it was allowed in waste lands and not in irrigated areas.

UNI