Stop seizing farmlands for SEZ, IFTU tells CM

Mumbai, Mar 2 (UNI) The Indian Federation of Trade Union (IFTU) today submitted a Memorandum to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, seeking immediate rollback of anti-farmer and land acquisition policies introduced by the State Government.

There is growing choas and insecurity among farmers and land owners in villages and rural areas, after the State administration began seizing lands for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) without paying adequate compensation and rehabilitation, Ravindra Joshi, President IFTU-Mumbai told UNI.

Joshi said the Memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister seeks immediate intervention to stop revoking of the Urban Land Ceilings Act (ULCA), corportisation of agriculture and farm lands and also attempts to modify land aquisition procedures.

Elaborating further, he blamed the State administration for the unrepairable damage in the rural heartland committed in the name of development. As a result, scores of farmers and land owners have been forced to become jobless and landless, Joshi asserted.

Joshi said IFTU will organise a seminar next month to educate and create awareness among people on the side effects of unchecked industrialisation.

Around 150 IFTU activists from Pune, Nanded, Thane and Mumbai took part in the day-long dharna at Azad Maidan protesting against exploitation of farmers and land owners through the creation of SEZ's.

UNI