Nearly 6,200 farmers in 22 villages in Pen, in Raigad district of Maharashtra voted to record their opinion on the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ), in the first-ever referendum over a special economic zone (SEZ) in the country.

Raigad district collector Nipun Vinayak said of 6,199 opinions had been recorded during the day.

The collector said his office had issued notices to 30,057 account holders in the area, out of which 6,199 account holders submitted their opinion.

Sources, however, pointed out that the number may in fact exceed the turn out as many farmers own multiple accounts.

The farmers came with ballots  – in white, pink and peach – handed over to them by pro- and anti-zone activists.

Pro-zone agents distributed forms, which detailed 10 conditions, including a price of Rs1 crore per acre, 15 per cent stake in the developed land, direct jobs in the SEZ or a sustenance allowance of Rs10 lakh and Rs250 daily allowance for landless labourers for a farmer to part with his land.

Reliance had offered Rs10 lakh an acre for fertile land and Rs5 lakh for barren land, 12.5 per cent stake in the developed land and job for one in the family.

The white forms were for the administration, the peach-coloured for the farmer and the pink ones for the anti-zone activists.

The forms distributed by the anti-zone agents merely said the farmer concerned would not sell his/her land.

The anti-zone activists, meanwhile, said there would not have been any need for a  referendum now had the Deshmukh administration had followed earlier leads which showed that the farmers were against the special economic zone.

The chief minister opted to ignore protests by over 24,000 farmers in the region who had submitted their objections, said PWP leader N D Patil, who is leading the anti-SEZ agitation.

State public works minister and Pen representative Raviseth Patil also is reported to have sided with the agitating farmers.

The main opposition to the special economic zone, however, stems from the fact that the area, most of which is fertile land, also falls in the catchment area of the Hetwane irrigation dam.

While opinion differs over acquisition of agricultural land for industrial purpose amidst increased concerns over long-term food security in the country, there are also many who offer to sell their land provided they get a good price.

Price expectations vary from Rs50 lakh to Rs2 crore.

Some also ask questions as to why the government is particular on offering fertile farm land for SEZs when there are 17,000 hectares of uncultivable land in the state.

The mood in the paddy-rich area, controlled by the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), appeared to be strongly against the multi-product SEZ.

Of the 45 villages, a little over 10 per cent land has been actually acquired by Reliance Industries in the last two-and-a-half years a process that has been largely marred by protests.

While the referendum may not be the final word on the SEZ, these opinions will become part of a report that will be tabulated and analysed by the state government before making the final call.