Take farmers into confidence on SEZ: Cong tells WB govt

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) The Congress today asked the West Bengal government to take the farmers into confidence before acquiring their land for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and adhere to the centre's guidelines on the issue.

Describing as ''very unfortunate'' the violence in Nandigram, West Bengal, immediately after the Singur incidents, Congress spokesman Satyabrat Chaturvedi told reporters that the state government must maintain law and order.

The West Bengal government has been facing flak for the controversial acquisition of farmers' land in Nandigram for an SEZ and in Singur for a Tata Motors factory.

''We would like to see farmers being taken into confidence before any decision on land acquisition,'' he said.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had written to West Bengal and other state governments, explaining the guidlines for land acquisition, he said.

The main parameters for land acquisition were payment of adequate compensation to farmers, employment to one person each from such families and making them stakeholders wherever possible, Mr Chaturvedi said.

UNI