Amidst speculation that the state Government might cancel the 1,880-hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ) being jointly developed by Videocon Group and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation Limited (MIDC) following intervention by Sharad Pawar, state Industries Secretary V K Jairath on Monday ruled out any change in Government’s stand on the Wagholi SEZ, saying the project was very much on.

The issue has taken a political turn with state Industries Minister Ashok Chavan, a known Pawar opponent, making it clear that he will not succumb to the pressure put by Pawar to abandon the SEZ. Chavan, when contacted said, he had made his stand “clear” and added “ the industries secretary will speak on this issue in detail.” Jairath said neither the state Government nor the MIDC had changed stand. “Speculation is rife that the Wagholi SEZ is getting scrapped. As far as the state Government is concerned there is no change in earlier plan of SEZ. Nor has the MIDC changed its stand,” he said.

In May, farmers from Wagholi had joined hands to oppose the SEZ and Shetkari Sanghatana had alleged that Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar had gone in for forceful land acquisition. Last week, NCP MLA Vilas Lande had claimed that Sharad Pawar had held discussions with the state Industries Secretary following which a decision to cancel the SEZ was taken.

Vilas Lande reiterated on Monday that with Pawar’s intervention the “problem” of SEZ had been solved. “Soon we expect the implementation of the decision taken by the state Government to cancel the SEZ,” said Lande. Pawar had assured a delegation of farmers from Wagholi that the state Government would scrap the Videocon SEZ, he said.

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