Even as the revenue and industries ministry has decided to take back land from entrepreneurs who failed to start an industry within the stipulated time, the decision will not be applicable for SEZs and the land acquired for them. According to highly-placed sources from industries department, more than 24,000 hectares of land will remain with the big industry houses who acquired them for more than 70 notified SEZs across the state.
According to senior official from industries department, the previous Dr Manmohan Singh-led Union government had approved 139 Special Economic Zones in Maharashtra during his tenure. “The land admeasured 24,784 hectares and was acquired for SEZs by various industry houses in the state,” he said, adding that these lands were still in the custody of industry groups, even though almost 70 SEZs were cancelled after a change in policy by the Centre.
Revenue minister Eknath Khadse too said that most of the industry houses do not return the land to the original owner or the state government. Mr Khadse said, “Once the UPA government changed their SEZ policy, several industry houses in the state were willing to quit from the SEZ scheme. However, they did not return the land that had been purchased from farmers.”
Mr Khadse added that the Congress-NCP government in the state had then altered the policy and allowed entrepreneurs to construct houses for staff and employees on 50 per cent of the land out of the total acquired for the SEZ. “We have noticed that a few industry houses has started constructing residential buildings before starting industry which is mandatory in the state’s new SEZ scheme,” he said.
An official from industries department said that 69 approved SEZs had not yet started industries in the last 15 years. According to a rule pertaining to revenue department, the land should be given back to original farmers, if industrialists fail to start the business within 15 years.
Of the 139 SEZs, the state had cancelled licences of 18 SEZs and 52 houses have quit from the scheme. The state has given relaxation from stamp duty and local body taxes to the industries which has purchased land for SEZ. “The state has lost a huge amount of taxes from the industries through the relaxation policy,” the official said.
