With the assembly elections less than six months away, the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh apprehensive about farmers backlash over acquisition of their lands for industrial projects, has developed cold feet on setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Similar is the situation in neighbouring Punjab as farming bodies had lined up against the government.
When contacted chief , minister Virbhadra Singh told FE over phone that “the Himachal Pradesh government was reviewing its green signal to three SEZs proposed at Kangra, Una and Waknaghat near Shimla”.
Two leading infrastructure development companies?D S Constructions and Skill Infrastructure ? were approved by the state government to set up two SEZs in Kangra and Una, respectively. Later, a new SEZ was cleared for Wakhnaghat.
This has posed a question mark over three SEZs expected to garner over Rs 10,000 crore worth investment to give boost to the economy . In fact the Himachal Pradesh government had already approved the three SEZs and the process of acquiring land for the same was due to commence shortly.
Chief minister, Virbhadra Singh has taken a clear stand on the issue saying that the government would re-examine the issue of setting up of SEZs. “If the people do not want them we will not have them”.
“Personally, I am opposed to the SEZs. I will take an appropriate decision on the issue in due course,” is the latest stance adopted by the chief minister.
The chief minister’s stance has raised doubts over the SEZs in the predominantly agrarian state with small holding. Since these involved displacement of families in Una and Kangra, the government appears to have developed cold feet on the issue.