Mumbai SEZ promoters including Reliance file petition opposing defacto referendum
18 Sep 2008, 1651 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

Mumbai, Sep 18 (ANI): Promoters of the Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ), including Reliance India Limited, have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court opposing Maharashtra Government's decision to hold a defacto referendum on the project.

The Mumbai SEZ is slated to come up in the neighbouring Raigad District.

The Raigad District Collector had last month issued a notice asking the landowners in the 22 affected villages to record their statements regarding their consent for the land acquisition.

These villages are situated in Pen taluka of Raigad District. The promoters' petition said the move is a result of pressure from local politicians to oppose the SEZ.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing this week.

About 4,000 landowners in 22 villages near Mumbai will decide the fate of Reliance group's proposed Mumbai Special Economic Zone (MSEZ).

Raigad district will hold a referendum on September 21 to ask villagers whether they wish to part with their land for the 5,000-acre project.

This is India's first-ever such exercise and is scheduled even as Singur stays on edge over the land acquisition for Tata Motors' Nano plant.

Despite the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance offering relief packages, the 22 villages in Pen want to continue farming rice. They say the near-complete Rs 360-crore Hetavane dam will soon solve their irrigation problems.

Futher, the villagers say the Rs 10 lakh per acre offered by Reliance is lower than the market rate, Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh per acre.

Ulka Mahajan, of the Shoshit Jan Andolan, said the "the villagers want to keep their land for farming". (ANI)

Related Latest

Hyderabad, Mumbai cricket fans hail Tendulkar's 17K run ODI feat 'Big B'honoured with lifetime achievement award at 11th Mumbai Film Festival Roman Polanski set to file 'very significant' bail offer Brit survivors recount the horror of Mumbai terror attacks 'Clinton's 'charm offensive' failed to address Pak's major grouses, including India' MJ's triple 'Thriller' creditors file new claims Mumbai residents cry foul over 15 percent water cut Security beefed up in and around Adiala Jail housing Mumbai terror suspects Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan sells tickets in Mumbai to promote his film Reliance Communications launches 'Cloud Computing' solutions in India on Microsoft Platform

Related Latest

Chemicals used in industrial applications may affect cholesterol levels Now, video game that improves intelligence How to include aging population in the technology revolution Chemical that regulates circadian rhythm identified Here's how you can shoot the perfect free throw Meet Liam Gallagher, the footie star Gerard Butler desperate to remain true to his Scottish roots Thandie Newton fell in love with hubby at first sight Russell Brand tired of "Googling" himself Two police officers embark on bicycle rally to spread message of unity

• Chemicals used in industrial applications may affect cholesterol levels
• Now, video game that improves intelligence
• How to include aging population in the technology revolution
• Chemical that regulates circadian rhythm identified
• Here's how you can shoot the perfect free throw

• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights
• Nine tips for nine nights
• need new prevention tech for HIV, other STIs and UP
• "Good health is India's basic need": Easier said than done Mr Prime Minister!