82 percent Raigad farmers against Reliance SEZ

Alibaug (Maharashtra), Oct 6 : Eighty two percent farmers and landowners in Raigad district are against the of the proposed Reliance Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project.

Though the Government has not yet declared any result on the referendum conducted last month, SEZ Sangharsh Samiti chief N D Patil declared the result on the "basis of information sought by it".

"About 82 percent of farmers are not in favour of SEZ," Patil told reporters in Alibaug.

"The Samiti has decided to wait till October 21 since all the farmers are busy with rice crop and then decide the further line of action," he said.

While the Government has not come up with the result of referendum, an official from the collectorate told media.

About 18,000 landowners and farmers from 22 villages voted on the issue on September 21.

Farmers of these villages had opposed the project stating theirs was arable land due to the Hetawane dam located in the area and as such could not be acquired for the SEZ.

ANI