Farmers' support can make SEZ policy sustainable: Yunus

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) Amid mounting protests over the acquisition of fertile land for several SEZ proposals in the country, Nobel Laureate and Chief Architect of Grameen Bank of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus today said with farmers' support the SEZ policy can become sustainable in the long term.

Quashing doubts of policy failure created by the protests, Prof Yunus told reporters here, ''SEZ policy is definitely sustainable for India. There is a limit to development that agriculture can achieve. For a jump in growth, industrialisation is necessary. You have to make a choice between agriculture and industrialisation.'' The question is on which kind of land these projects are being set up, he said, adding the protests led by farmers will fade away if they are convinced that their ''barren land'' will be put to productive use.

''The first step to win their favour is to make them evacuate the barren land with decency and respect by giving adequate compensation,'' Prof Yunus said.

Since its inception, the government policy to facilitate setting up of special economic zones (SEZs) in the country has been under fire, creating doubts about its success.

Salim Group's SEZ project in Nandigram village in East Midnapore district of West Bengal is being opposed by local farmers.

Yesterday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who appeared before the public for the first time a month after she ended her fast over Tatas' Singur project, gave an ultimatum to the West Bengal government to rethink on the Singur car plant, which is one of the key investment proposals in the state.

''We want them to leave agricultural land alone, we want them to leave the farmers with their land.

''If they don't listen, then the ball is not in my court but in the court of the people who will do what they want. If they don't listen and if they threaten continuously, then we will say to the Tatas, tata bye bye,'' Ms Banerjee warned.

The Trinamool Congress chief will lead a march to Singur on February 10, following a protest march by Nandigram farmers on February 4.

''The march will take place irrespective of the imposition of Section 144,'' she said.

UNI