(a) the total area of land acquired so far for setting up special economic
zones and the value thereof, State-wise;
(b) whether the livelihood of the farmers has been adversely affected due to acquisition of the land;
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(d) the manner in which the interests of the farmers are protected in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI)
(a) to (c): Land is a State subject. Land for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is procured as per the policy
and procedures of the respective State Governments. The State Governments allot Government land and also
wherever needed acquire land for the purpose. State Governments have been advised that in case of land
acquisition for SEZs, first priority should be for acquisition of waste and barren land and if necessary
single crop agricultural land could be acquired for the SEZs. If perforce a portion of double cropped
agricultural land has to be acquired to meet the minimum area requirements, especially for multi-product
SEZs, the same should not exceed 10% of the total land required for the SEZ. The Board of Approval on SEZs
only considers those proposals, which have been duly recommended by the State Government. Further, pursuant
to the decision of Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) in its meeting held on 5th April, 2OO7.The State
Governments have been informed on 15th June, 2007 that the Board of Approval will not approve any SEZs
where the State Governments have carried out or propose to carry out compulsory acquisition of land for
such SEZs after 5th April, 2007, the State Government Agencies are implementing relief and rehabilitation
package for any affected person due to land acquisition for SEZs. The total area of land involved in notified
SEZs is 45,849 hectare. State-wise details are as per Annexure.
(d): The National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007, which covers all cases of involuntary
displacement, came into effect on 31st October, 2007. The rehabilitation & resettlement benefits for
the affected families in the Policy, inter alia, include that in case of a project involving land
acquisition on behalf of a requiring body, the requiring body shall give preference to the affected
families — at least one person per nuclear family - in providing employment in the, project, subject
to the availability of vacancies and suitability of the affected person for the employment. Further,
wherever necessary, the requiring body shall arrange for training of the affected persons, so as to
enable such persons to take on suitable jobs. To give the legal backing to the above Policy, the
Government has introduced a Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 on 7th
September,2011 in the Lok Sabha.