The Urban Poor Yatra, which started from Mumbai on October 3 rd, as part of their program to link urban struggles across the country reached the struggles of farmers in Raigad and Pune where 11 SEZ are coming up resulting in large scale appropriation of agricultural land for non agricultural purposes.
The agriculturalists are waging a battle against the state to protect their land from being forcefully acquired and transferred to corporate powers like Reliance, Mahendra etc..
In Pen, thousands of people assembled for a public meeting organized by SEZ hatao Sangarsh Samiti where a number of organizations including Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Shramik Mukti Sangatan, Adivasi Haw Sangarsh Samiti etc joined in the protest. The meeting was addressed by Ms Medha Patkar, Ms. Ulka Mahajan, Adv Surekha Dalvi About 10,000 hectors of agricultural land is to be acquired by the state for Reliance Group of companies affecting 45 villages and 25000 families.
The Yatra then went to Karla where again land is being acquired from small scale farmers for the SEZ to be set up by Mahindra. About 1000 hectors of land from 9 vilalges are being acquired for the purpose
The meetings culminated in a large public meeting at Pune which was jointly organized by SEZ Virodhi Sangarsh kriti Samiti, NAPM, CPI (M), etc. The meeting, which was held at the collector office, challenged the land acquisition and repeal the SEZ in the area. The meeting was addressed by Ms. Medha Patkar, Mr. Narasaya Adam MLA (CPIM), Ms. Ulka, Mr. Balchandra Kango (CPI), Mr. Subash Ware (Rashtra Seva Dal), Justice (Rtd). B.G Kolse Patil. Representatives from different SEZ of Karla, Rajguru Nagar, Pen spoke on the occasion.
About 11 SEZ are being started in Pune alone while Maharashtra is having 48 special economic processing zones. These zones are of minimum 1000 hectors and are defined as ‘delineated duty-free enclaves and are deemed foreign territories for the purposes of trade operations, duties and tariffs’. The Policy allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment ("FDI") in most manufacturing activities. The land acquisition is being done forcefully by the state and transferred to corporates including Reliance, Mahendra etc..
The Developers of SEZs will be granted full autonomy to develop townships within SEZs. Allocation and pricing of land, facilities and services in SEZs are not governed by existing regulations. Goods or services required by developers for the development of the zone can be procured from the DTA, without payment of any duty. Specified goods could also be imported at concessional rates of duty. SEZ developers would be accorded infrastructure status, and thereby entitled to claim all concessions and incentives available to infrastructure players, under the Income Tax Act.
The Developers of SEZs will be granted full autonomy to develop townships within SEZs. Allocation and pricing of land, facilities and services in SEZs are not governed by existing regulations. Goods or services required by developers for the development of the zone can be procured from the DTA, without payment of any duty. Specified goods could also be imported at concessional rates of duty. SEZ developers would be accorded infrastructure status, and thereby entitled to claim all concessions and incentives available to infrastructure players, under the Income Tax Act.
The Yatra has since left for Banglore then to Chennai and Trivandrum where they will interact with urban poor organizations there.
Courtesy: UPY Update, October 9
