SEZ under fire, Dhumal says won’t take over farm land

The proposal to construct an international airport and a Special Economic Zone at Una has met opposition from the local farmers, who are against land acquisition for the same. The SEZ is being developed by Skill Infrastructure, a Mumbai-based firm of Nikhil Gandhi, which will require 8,000 acres in Gagret area, bordering Punjab and on the banks of Swan river.

The farmers of half-a-dozen villages, whose land will be acquired, held a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office three days ago and raised slogans against the Prem Kumar Dhumal Government. Led by vice-chairman of the Block Development Committee Narinder Parmar, the farmers submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, conveying that no agricultural land should be diverted for construction of the airport.

What has triggered the protests is the sudden spurt in prices of land in the area because of industrial activity. Due to increase in irrigation facilities, the farmers get a good yield for their cash crops.

Dhumal claims the protests have surprised him as the Government never said it would take over agricultural land for the SEZ. “We have taken a decision to allow SEZs strictly on the Gujarat model — only on barren and non-cultivable land,” says the CM.