The Hindu : National : Farmers hail court verdict dismissing Reliance’s plea

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Farmers hail court verdict dismissing Reliance’s plea

Staff Reporter

22 of the 45 villages under the Reliance-promoted Mumbai Special Economic Zone did not wish to part with their lands

“Wherever lands were acquired, the people did not vote for the ruling party”
“The verdict has shown that a farmer can fight a big corporate house”

Mumbai: Farmers have welcomed the Supreme Court judgment dismissing Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries’ special leave petition seeking a stay on the land acquisition proceedings for its special economic zone in Raigad district of Maharashtra

Reliance had pleaded for a stay on the ground that the compensation awarded for the farmers had not been passed within the stipulated period of two years from the date of notification of the acquisition — June 8, 2007. It contended that if the consent awards were not passed by this date, the entire acquisition proceedings would lapse causing grave financial loss to the company, which had already invested Rs. 600 crore on the project.

For the agitating farmers, the judgment is the highpoint of their four-year struggle. Farmers organisations have welcomed the verdict.

The Maha Mumbai Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti termed it a major and a historic victory.

SEZ Sangharsha Samiti leader Ulka Mahajan, told The Hindu that the court’s decision was the first of its kind. The verdict had shown that a farmer could fight a big corporate house. It had set a good precedent.

Wherever lands were acquired, the people did not vote for the ruling party. With the coming elections it should serve as a signal to the government, she said.

Patangrao Kadam, State Revenue Minister and former Minister for Co-operation, Relief and Rehabilitation, told The Hindu that the government would not interfere in the acquisition process between the buyer (Reliance) and the owner of the land.

The MSEZ covers 11,000 hectares and 45 villages. Twenty-two of the 45 villages were opposed to the SEZ and did not wish to part with their lands.

Authorities say the company claimed to have secured the power of attorney and registered land agreements for 1,800 hectares, based on which it sought consent awards.

However, despite the agreements, they could not produce owners for their consent. As per Section 11 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act 1984, both the buyer and the owner have to be present before the authority for the grant of consent award. Even as the law made a speedy move, the State government is dragging its feet on declaring the results of the referendum they conducted last September.

The unwilling 22 villages had cast their opinion on the SEZ. Over eight months later, Dr. Kadam still has to receive a report of the opinion poll. Only on May 27, 2009 the report came to the Revenue Commissioner. “Now, we are waiting for the report to come to us [Ministry],” the Minister said.

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