State order wrecks Mukesh Ambani’s Raigad SEZ plan
19 Feb 2011
Mukesh Ambani's plans to convert Raigad district into Maharashtra's biggest special economic zone (SEZ) have come crashing down, as the state government has issued a resolution to de-notify the acquisition of land for the project.
This means that the state would not only not acquire any more land for the SEZ promoted by Reliance Industries Ltd, but all land acquired by the government in the past is also to be returned to the original owners.
The step has been taken as Reliance could not acquire the land by the December 2009 deadline. The state says the farmers are now free to utilise their lands as they deem fit.
On hearing news of the government's resolution, farmers in the Pen, Panvel and Uran talukas burst crackers in celebration.
With a majority of farmers opposed to surrendering their land and a further extension required to keep the project going, it is now possible that the entire MahaMumbai SEZ plan would be scrapped.
"The decision has been taken by revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat in the interests of farmers as process of land acquisition for the SEZ wasn't completed in the stipulated period," an official said.