This is what modern india has come to! The nation in its eagerness to embrace progress, has unlearned the basic dignity of human, body and et al! This photo taken at Sonachuri area of Nandigram, in the state of West Bengal. Stray dogs were feeding on a charred human body of all the thing! Six people were killed and scores more injured in clashes between villagers and ruling Communist Party members in India's West Bengal state in a dispute over the acquisition of farmland for industrial purposes, according to reports.
Government of India had a policy decisionon 1.4.2000 for setting up of Special Economic Zones in the country with a view to provide an internationally competitive and hassle free environment for exports. All the import/export operations of the SEZ units will be on self-certification basis.
The policy provides for setting up of SEZ’s in the public, private, joint sector or by State Governments. It was also envisaged that some of the existing Export Processing Zones would be converted into Special Economic Zones. Accordingly, the Government has converted Export Processing Zones located at Kandla and Surat (Gujarat), Cochin (Kerala), Santa Cruz (Mumbai-Maharashtra), Falta (West Bengal), Madras (Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Noida (Uttar Pradesh) into a Special Economic Zones. In addition, 3 new Special Economic Zones approved for establishment at Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Manikanchan – Salt Lake (Kolkata) and Jaipur have since commended operations. In addition, approval has been given for setting up of 42 Special Economic Zones in various parts of the country in the private/joint sectors or by the State Government.
But all is not going well. Questions over proposed changes in land use are piling up, even as the commerce ministry and State governments galore.
Among the proposals that have received provisional approval are SEZs on tribal land and ecologically sensitive coastal areas.
Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who recently shot off letters to the Maharashtra government and commerce ministry seeking information under the Right To Information Act, said, "I have found 87 cases of violations in allotment of SEZs, from approvals granted for land that falls under the coastal regulation zone and tribal land, which don’t even meet the minimum land criteria, being given approvals."
Somaiya added, "Worldwide, there are only 393 SEZs but the government has approved as many as 467 SEZs till date, in just 6-7 months."
Another case is that of Pune-based Kumar Builders. The company had applied for a SEZ status for its 49.1 hectare development coming up near Pune.
Initially, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation had expressed reservations and the state government’s screening committee had decided not to support the proposal. However, the builder later submitted clarifications on the basis of which the state is reconsidering the proposal.
While Somaiya contends that the ministry rushed the case through despite MIDC’s reservations, the state government official said the case was taken up for reconsideration only after receiving the developer’s clarifications on the objections raised.
The unusual haste shown at government and beurocratic levels have irked the common public. India is a country that is mainly dependant on agriculture. The farmers here love their land more than anything else. We in India call our country Motherland. That's why someone coming from outside and setting their business has made them angry so much that the care for their own brethern has left the farming commuunity. The irony of this all is that the Left parties who oppose SEZ and Globalization and new economic reforms to the hilt are in Government in West Bengal and Trinmul Congress is oppossing them. What more can one say!
goshh!!!
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