The Hindu Business Line : Rehabilitation dept clearance `must' for SEZs in Maharashtra

Before initiating steps for setting up special economic zones (SEZ) in the State, permission would have to be taken by all departments. This is the directive which has been sent out by the Rehabilitation Department.

Talking to presspersons, Dr, Patangrao Kadam, State Co-operation and Rehabilitation Minister as also the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on SEZ, noted that about 71 SEZs had been proposed in the State, but no steps including acquiring land could be initiated without the permission of the Rehabilitation Department.

He also stated that the department would study all the SEZ proposals separately and permission would be given to departments to initiate action only after the rehabilitation of the affected people was completed.

The department has also written to the Industries Department to submit a detailed report on the status of the proposed SEZs. "We will ensure that the interests of the project-affected farmers are safeguarded by giving them proper returns for their land. Priority will be given to non-agricultural land for setting up of SEZs'' he said.

Asked about the Reliance SEZ in Navi Mumbai, he said the matter has been discussed with the industrial group and a decision would be taken only after the opinion of the villagers were obtained.

Asked about the Vaidyanathan Committee report, Dr Kadam said the Government would be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nabard on Monday for revitalising the over 20,000 co-operative structures in the State. This is as per the committee recommendations.

The committee has proposed a Rs. 14,000-crore revitalisation package for the co-operative structures in the country.

He noted that once the MoU was signed, over 20,000 co-operatives structures, which included 31 district central co-operative banks and the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, would be the beneficiaries. These institutions would be able to write off the loan outstandings to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crore, he said.

Dr. Kadam, commenting on the waiver of loans to farmers in the Vidarbha region, said: "Until the loan given to farmers is waived, there will be no solution to the issue of farmers suicides. The State Government has taken steps to waive the interest to loans distributed to the farmers but they are not sufficient.''

The Government has decided to give loans to farmers at six per cent interest, he said adding that it has given loans of Rs. 4,100 crore.

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