Click to play videoRaigad: The Maharashtra government held a first of its kind referendum on acquisition of farm land for industry.
For the first time in the history of land acquisition the state government held a consensus where farmers voted on whether or not they wanted to give up their land to a special economic zone (SEZ).
The state government plans to offer the land to the Reliance Industries for development into an economic zone.
On Sunday, farmers lined up to express whether they want to give up their land for a Reliance Maharashtra SEZ. The farmers walked up with identification papers in hand to cast their opinion.
45-year-old Vijay Krishnaji Bhoir arrived to cast his vote just as he has lined up many times to elect governments. He is one of the 24,000 villagers whose fate now hangs in balance.
"I do not want the SEZ. It will not augur well for us the locals," Bhoir said.
Spread over almost 10,000 hectares of land, the controversial SEZ has generated a lot political heat. It being the election year, this referendum could be the state government's attempt at washing its hands clean off the alleged attempt to favour Reliance.
Yet, for people fighting to save their land, this is their biggest hope.
"We are glad this referendum has taken place. Our aim is now to ensure that this is a fair process. There's no way we are going to allow this SEZ. We will part with not an inch of the land," said a social activist, Ulka Mahajan.
Experts too agree that this is the opportunity for people to say that they do not want a special economic zone.
Sources confirm that the Mumbai SEZ Private Limited have managed to buy up 1300 hectares so far through it's local agents. It may not be long before more debt ridden farmers sell out.
Suryakant Krishna Patil, a farmer from Kaleshri village is one such farmer who is happy that there is some monetary relief in sight as the farm land brought him no gains.
"There's no hope in agriculture too. At least we deserve a better remuneration for our land and the livelihood lost," said a Patil.
There are also those who haven't made up their minds.
Another farmer, Ganapati Phule Mhatre said,"We want the SEZ. It'll bring jobs and more opportunities. It is good so long as it's within a structure of rules."
Even while one waits for the outcome of this unusual exercise, the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group has now filed a petition in the Bombay High Court opposing the state government's decision to hold a referendum on land acquisition.
But the chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is undeterred. “If they have gone to the court, our lawyers will fight in the court," he said.
The central government feels that the state should keep itself out of land acquisition. Commerce Secretary, G K Pillai said, "There is no legal provision for a referendum and the state government should withdraw the notification immediately."
The referendum may have been a good idea but given the haphazard manner in which it is executed, there are bound to be sections of farmers who are dissatisfied with the verdict in either case.
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