Reliance SEZ: cracking a crisis in corporate way

In Gurgaon, the state Government has already provided nearly 1500 acres to the company on a platter. In fact, the Government could have utilised the land for raising its own first SEZ through the Haryana Industrial and Infrastructure development Corporation (HSIIDC). However, the corporation too had bargained a sweat equity of 10 per cent in the RIL SEZ.

The RIL has acquired more than 6,000 acres in Jhajjar as land prices were sky-rocketing in Gurgaon. The farmers of Jhajjar villages suddenly turned millionaires after extracting huge amounts from the company.

The Hooda Government hopes that the SEZs would bring an investment of 10,000 crore to the state besides creating five lakh jobs. The farmers, who had been hoping for a better bargain from the company in the wake of the new policy of purchasing land at market prices, are also happy. Hooda’s decision to give them a royalty against the sale of land, added to their glee. He had earlier announced Rs 10,000 per acre per year to farmers whose land would be acquired by the government for the SEZ.

The Hooda Government has been citing the SEZ as its biggest achievement amid charges of corruption raised by Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal.

The RIL SEZ will open up new vistas of development, investment and job opportunities in this backward and barren part of Haryana, claims the state Government.

The Government in its recently amended policy, had asked the SEZs to ensure that they essentially take the local youth of the area for jobs in the SEZs. Finally, as one could have expected, the solution is indeed too good for both the parties — the Reliance Industries and the Hooda Government.