Farmers win: Videocon SEZ scrapped

He said he had detailed talks with farmers who voiced the sentiment that they did not want to give up their irrigated land for this project.

“SEZs can only come up with the consent of the people in the area. With no go-ahead from the villagers and the company too expressing difficulties in going ahead because of the protest,we decided to scrap the project.”

Nearly 4,500 acres had to be acquired in the four villages for the Videocon SEZ. Dhoot,who is in Hong Kong now,could not be reached for comment.

The project had run into rough weather following protests by farmers and the government had imposed a stay order on acquisition about a year ago.

Meanwhile,residents of the four villages did not hide their excitement. “People are now relieved that no government officer will come to take over their agricultural land. We were determined; we put up a tough fight,” said Pradeep Khandare,a farmer from Wagholi.

With the farmers getting Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar,guardian minister Ajit Pawar and MLA Vilas Lande on their side,there were several hearings and memorandums on the project.

Lande welcomed the decision. “The government cannot forcefully acquire any land for development. The farmers were opposing the project from day one and finally after several hearings and memorandums,the decision came in our favour.”

“After the stay order in November 2007,a status quo (of the SEZ) was maintained,” said a senior officer of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

“With even talks of the proposed SEZ shifting to Saswad in Purandar district,this was long considered scrapped from our side though we had not received any written intimation then.”