Maharashtra government scraps Maha Mumbai SEZ

The Mukesh Ambani-promoted Maha Mumbai special economic zone (SEZ) in Raigad has been scrapped.

The Maharashtra government has said farmers are now free to utilise their lands as they want. The SEZ was scrapped on grounds that it was not completed in the stipulated period.

Earlier, the government land record earmarked 35,000 acres in Raigad reserved for the special economic zone. The period of two years allotted under the Land Acquisition Act to acquire land had lapsed in December 2009.

The land earlier earmarked for SEZ comprised 45 villages in Uran, Pen and Panvel talukas in Raigad district. But this had so far prevented farmers from selling, buying, or transferring their lands. The project had triggered strong protests from farmers.

Significantly, in September 2008, the state government conducted a referendum, in which the villagers voted against the project. The land acquisition procedure was kicked off in May 2006 but the company managed to acquire only 13 per cent of the land in the stipulated period.

How the SEZ row unfolded

The land acquisition process for the Mumbai SEZ had begun way back in 2006. But it hit several roadblocks, including protests and an adverse order from the Bombay High Court.

Here's how the controversy unfolded:

• SEZ promoter Reliance Industries had proposed the acquisition of 20,600 acre.
• The deal was that Reliance would acquire 70 per cent land, while the state government would the acquire remaining 30 per cent. 
• Reliance managed to acquire only 13 per cent land within the deadline. The SEZ Board of Approval extended the deadline twice in two years.
• The company failed to achieve the target because of massive opposition from farmers. In a historic referendum on the SEZ, the farmers had rejected the project. But the state government did not go public with the outcome.
• The Bombay HC also rejected Reliance plea to stay acquisition procedure and offer another extension.