CIDCO seeks 4000 hectares of land deleted from Reliance SEZ

Mumbai, Aug 17 (UNI) The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has sought roughly 4000 hectares of agriculture land to be deleted from the proposed Mahamumbai-Mumbai Integrated Special Economic Zone, being promoted by Reliance Industries.

The CIDCO made its intention clear in an affidavit filed in the Bombay High Court, persuant to a petition challenging the Mahamumbai SEZ. It has been aserted in the affidavit that the state government has included, without consulting the special planning body, 4000 hectares of agriculture land out of 21 villages, which were already included in the proposed Khopta Township of CIDCO.

CIDCO has further contended in the affidavit that the land of these villages was needed for future development of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and port related activities such as container depots and container freight stations. It said considering these requirements Managing Director of CIDCO has already requested the state government to release the said land from Mahamumbai SEZ. The state government has already deleted, from the controversial SEZ 36 hectare land allotted earlier to Malavika Harbo Pharma.

Meanwhile, the court has directed Reliance Industries to file its reply affidavit, persuant to the petition opposing the SEZ.

UNI