Bihar CM opposes SEZs

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the Prime Minister should convene an all-party meet to discuss the merits and demerits of SEZs.

He said the state government is opposed to the creation of Special Economic Zones. "I have told the Centre in very clear terms that the Bihar government is opposed to creation of SEZs," Kumar said.

He said SEZs would not serve any purpose as the concept was aimed at creating "a country within a country" and it had been borrowed from some developed nations.

"It has little meaning (relevance) for India." "I personally feel that acquisition of large chunk of agricultural land of farmers in the name of industrialisation will not serve any purpose," he said adding the Prime Minister should convene an all-party

meeting to discuss SEZs.

Kumar, however, said for the development of any state industrialisation was a must and for which land will be acquired. But the farmers should be adequately compensated for their agricultural land, he pointed out.

The use of fertile land for industrialisation should be the last resort, Kumar said. "Our party had already intimated the Prime Minister that JD (U) is not in favour of creating SEZs," he said.

The Chief Minister said during his recent visit to Bihita in Patna district some farmers approached him and complained that their arable land was being acquired for industrialisation purpose.

"I immediately directed the officials to stop the process and look for non-fertile land in the vicinity," he said.