Left sees red on SEZs

22 Sep 2006

Some very vocal protesters are against Mukesh Ambani's ambitious plans to set up a 25,000-acre SEZ in Navi Mumbai, reports CNBC-TV18.

Over 30,000 villagers from over 40 villages are here to protest against reliance's Navi Mumbai SEZ, which they claim will displace them and deprive them of their land and livelihood. And what's encouraging them is the demand from Left leaders that Mukesh Ambani's SEZ plans be scrapped.

"Till the time SEZ rules are not changed, this SEZ should be scrapped," said Sitaram Yechury, Politburo Member, CPI (M).

Farmers say while the prevailing market rate for land is over Rs25 lakh an acre, the state government is offering them only Rs2 lakh. But more important, they are emotionally attached to their land. "We can't give our village to Mukesh Ambani. We have spent our entire life here," is a common refrain.

The Left claims the zones will benefit only real estate developers and legalise speculation in real estate.

"Neither industrialists nor farmers are going to benefit, it is straightforward land developers and land mafia at work," said Yechury.

The next few months will show how effective these protests will be. And the fate of Mukesh Ambani's grandiose SEZ plans.