UPA govt's policy on SEZs opposed in RS

New Delhi, Nov 24: Striking a sharp note of disagreement, Congress member Santosh Bagrodia today opposed the UPA government's policy on Special Economic Zones (SEZs), saying it would spell disaster for the farming community, already distraught over falling agricultural incomes.

''The proposed SEZ policy of the government, under which farmers would be forced to part with their land at throwaway prices, will only benefit big industrialists,'' Mr Bagrodia said while participating in a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Agriculture Produce (Remunerative Prices) Bill 2006, which was piloted by V Narayanasamy(Cong).

Asserting that he was not opposed to setting up of big industries, he said SEZ developers should buy lands at commercial rates from open market.

''Under no condition, farmers should be made to part with their cultivable lands. Otherwise, it will only help the land mafia to prosper,'' he said.

The Congress member also suggested that the huge piece of land, locked in sick Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) all over the country, could be acquired for this purpose.

He also criticised the government's policy of announcing a uniform Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various agricultural produce, saying this did not take into account regional variations in input charges and labour costs.

Mr Ramdeo Bhandari (RJD) suggested that the headquarters of the proposed Development Board for the farmers be set up in Delhi instead of Puducherry, where a Zonal Office could be located.

Earlier, Congress member Prabha Thakur said the UPA Government had come to power on the promise to improve the condition of farmers.

She noted that the migration due to heavy debts was forcing large-scale migration of farmers to towns. Instead of banks waiving loans of big industrialists, farmers loans should be dealt with more kindly. Dr Thakur also recommended setting up of training centres to teach farmers about crops and other needed information.

UNI