RIL slows down work in Gurgaon SEZ

The SEZ is likely to go in cold storage till the economic condition improves and congenial atmosphere is created for developing it in the state.

However, the company, according to the sources, would continue with its plans to develop certain facilities at the 1,500 acre piece of land provided by the Haryana Industries and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Sources said company’s land acquisition drive had almost halted after the revised land acquisition policy of the state. Certain farmers of the area, on their own or at the behest of opposition parties, had refused to sell their land to the RIL.

But after the revised policy even those who were ready to sell, started demanding exorbitant prices.

“We had never expected this and could have purchased nearly 8,000 acres of more land at Jhajjar.

We were expecting the state would come to our rescue for contiguity of the area but with the recent restrictions it has become a herculean task to purchase land,” said a senior functionary of the RIL, who was closely associated with the SEZ.

It is better to wait than to hurry in such a venture where so much money is at stake, he added.

Ironically, the proposed SEZ, touted as the biggest in the country, has been suffering one jolt after the other ever since its conception, about three years ago.

The company had planned to develop its Rs 40,000 crore- SEZ over an area of 25,000 acres. It purchased land scattered in various areas of Jhajjar, depending on the government in acquiring it. The land was purchased at about Rs 22 lakh per acre, the opposition parties entered the arena and demanded a higher price for the farmers.

This led the Centre to interfere and a parliamentary committee, after visiting the site, put a number of restrictions on the size of the SEZ. With one stroke the biggest SEZ of the country was reduced to half its size at 12,500 acres. However, the RIL still found a leeway and decided to raise two SEZs of equal size in the area. But the state revised its land acquisition policy and decided not to interfere in the land acquisition by any company, making it difficult for the company to negotiate with the farmers.

RIL sources are tightlipped, but conceded that the work has slowed down because of other reasons as well. “We are trying to convince the company to continue its drive to acquire land. We would be ready to help them within the limits of our policy regarding the SEZs,” said a senior officer.