Sonia cautions state governments against diversion of farmlands to SEZs

Mumbai: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has joined the chorus against special economic zones (SEZs). Addressing a conclave of state chief ministers in New Delhi, she advised caution on diversion of farmland for non-agricultural purposes. She also called for "proper compensation" to farmers in case of land acquisition.

"Prime agricultural land should not normally be diverted to non-agricultural uses. Industry requires land no doubt. But this must be done without jeopardising our agricultural prospects," she said.

"We will be adding 300 million to our population in the next 20 years. Agriculture must be the focus of the plan. Without massive public investment and without far reaching reforms in the public delivery system, agricultural growth at the scale we need cannot take place," she cautioned.

Sonia said farmers must be made stakeholders in projects involving diversion of their land. "Farmers must get proper compensation when their land is purchased," she said. "Could farmers also not become stakeholders in the projects that come up on the land acquired from them?" she asked.

Her remarks come in the wake of rising opposition to SEZs and contoversies involving Reliance's Haryana project and the Anil Ambani-contovelled ADAG's Dadri power project.