Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Kakinada, November 27, 2007: Noted social activist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey said that the Nandigram fiasco should be a lesson for all governments which might try to snatch agricultural lands from farmers purportedly for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

He observed that the SEZs could be set up on barren lands or large chunks of land lying idle with sick industries instead of grabbing agricultural lands. For instance, some 40,000 acres of land under the possession of sick industries in and around Kolkata could have been used for the purpose of SEZ.

Addressing a motley gathering of representatives of different political parties and NGOs at the municipal guest house here on Tuesday, Mr. Pandey said some governments were exploiting their own people in the name of developing SEZs.

Mining project
Mr. Pandey regretted that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had just laid the foundation stone for the uranium mining project in his own Kadapa district. It was the same person who opposed the project proposed to be taken up in Nalgonda district when he was in the Opposition during the TDP regime.

Source: The Hindu