Protest erupts in Maharashtra village over proposed SEZ

Thousands of villagers from Pen and Ursa villages on the outskirts of Mumbai, hit the roads today to protest against land acquisition for an Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, which will cover a major portion of their villages.

Belapur (Maharashtra), Aug 16 : Thousands of villagers from Pen and Ursa villages on the outskirts of Mumbai, hit the roads today to protest against land acquisition for an Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, which will cover a major portion of their villages.

The protest soon turned violent after the protestors went on a rampage, damaging vehicles and attacking police.

Police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse and control the mob.

Senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, who was leading the protest, was arrested along with several others on charges of inciting violence.

The SEZ for Reliance is expected to be built on an area of 5,000 hectares under a new ruling as opposed to initial 10,000 hectares.

The Central Government had earlier extended the one year in-principle approval to Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited's proposed Maha Mumbai SEZ.

The country's SEZ policies have come under fire of late, with regular protests taking place since the second half of last year across the country.

Fourteen people died and more than 100 were injured in protests against a proposed SEZ in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his address to the nation on the 60th anniversary of the country's independence on Wednesday, promised a national policy on rehabilitation and resettlement of those displaced by major projects.

He, however, said there was no alternative to industrialization as it offers new opportunities and hope, especially for people in rural areas displaced by agrarian change.

ANI