Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Newindpress.com

Bangalore, June 25, 2007: Giving voice to farmers’ resistance against the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Nandagudi in Hoskote taluk, the Congress is getting ready for a mass agitation, which would be kicked off with a massive public rally in the first week of July.

Opposition leader in the Legislative Council H K Patil who visited some of the villages that have been notified for the project on Sunday with his party legislators V R Sudarshan, Salim Ahmed, Umashree, M T B Nagaraj and others, declared that the exact plans for the agitation would be finalised at a special meeting of State Congress leaders on Monday.

Giving an ultimatum to CM H D Kumaraswamy to withdraw the Cabinet decision for the SEZ before July 5, Patil declared, “we will organise a public rally in Nandagudi on July 3 or 4 against the project. The issue would be raised prominently in the legislature session starting July 5.”

Expressing serious concern at the proposal to acquire about 12,500 acres spread across 36 villages, which includes about 4745 acres of government lands, he said, “contrary to the government’s statement that it is giving barren lands for the project, the lands here are fertile and are the main source of vegetables for Bangalore. The area has also provided employment for thousands of families in dairy farming and sericulture. The proposed SEZ cannot provide alternative employment for these people.”

Patil accused the Chief Minister of shedding crocodile tears for farmers.

“On one side he holds farmers’ conventions to hear their grievances, and on the other hand he gives permission for real estate companies to grab farm lands at throwaway prices,” he accused.

Presenting copies of the letters written by S M Jaamdar, Principal Secretary of Revenue department to the industries department stating, “land in and around Bangalore are prime land. It would not be possible for the Revenue Department to give such a vast expanse of government land for the SEZ,” he questioned the real motives for approving the project.

Patil also cited the inability expressed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board to provide water for the proposed SEZ.

Former chairman of Legislative Council V R Sudarshan said the conduct of the government with regard to the project had given rise to suspicions of corrupt deals with the promoters.