Kamal Nath supports Sonia's view on land acquisition for SEZs

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today favoured Congress President Sonia Gandhi's view that there should be certain restrictions and conditions for acquisition of land from the farmers to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

''Except the waste land, we firmly believe that prime agricultural land should not be diverted for the SEZs by the state governments,'' Mr Nath told reporters here.

He said the Board of Approvals for SEZs gave its nod last week, making this condition mandatory before acquisition of land from the farmers.

Mr Nath added the states must ensure that only those lands be provided for SEZs which cannot be utilised for agriculture.

He said in any case farmers should not be displaced, adding that the state governments are the authority to provide the lands and the Central Government can't intervene in this matter.

Mr Nath also favoured providing stakes in the SEZs to farmers, whose lands have been acquired or will be acquired.

''Stakes should be given to those farmers whose lands will be acquired,'' he said.

Commenting on the land given to Reliance by Haryana government at cheap rates at the cost of farmers, last week, Mr Nath said the state government should take notice on it.

Last Saturday, Ms Gandhi said that acquisition of land for SEZs must be done without jeopardising agricultural prospects and farmers should get proper compensation for the land.

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