Maha learns a lesson from Singur

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Mumbai, Oct 8: The Maharashtra government, in a bid to avoid repetition of Singur-like episode in the state, has proposed to identify an alternate land of more than 3,900 acre for the development of 1,600 mw of imported coal-based power project by Tata Power and 4,000 mw of imported coal and gas-based power project by Reliance Power in the coastal Raigad district. The state government has decided to provide barren land, about 20 km from the existing site, which is close to Alibag. The land currently allocated is agricultural land.

This is the first incident in which the state government, after taking lessons from Tata pull out from Singur, has proposed to explore an option of providing an alternate land. The government’s move is crucial when Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday asserted that no fertile land will be offered to project developers. A state government source told FE, “Already three and half years have been lost and if the opposition for the present site continues it is very difficult for the project developers to carry out these projects. If an alternative land, which is close to the sea is identified, the anti project lobby may have no objection. Maharashtra needs power and issues relating to land can be sorted out through dialogue.”