Tamil Nadu State government through its executing agency Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) planned to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Hosur, in Krishnagriri district of Tamil Nadu. TIDCO had obtained `in-principle' approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India for establishing this SEZ. In 2006 the estimated cost of the proposed SEZ was about Rs. 512 crore. PricewaterHouseCoopers a global consultancy firm had conducted feasibility study of the SEZ in 2005. The district administration had also sent a proposal to the TN Government to get the administrative sanction for the project. Initially, the district administration had identified 1,053 hectares of land in the following villages; Bairamangalam, Kundumanapalli in Denkanikottai taluk and Achettipalli, Onnalvadi and Senamoa villages in Hosur taluk. [1]. |
Special Economic Zone Hosur – GMR Krishnagiri Special Investment Region, TN, India
Agricultural land sacrified for industrial purposes; an ever ending mantra for Indian communities
| Name of conflict: | Special Economic Zone Hosur – GMR Krishnagiri Special Investment Region, TN, India |
| Country: | India |
| State or province: | Tamil Nadu |
| Location of conflict: | Town-Hosur, District - Krishnagriri |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Other industries Land acquisition conflicts |
| Specific commodities: | Land |
| Project details | This multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is located at the villages of Bairamangalam, Kundumanapalli in Denkanikottai taluk and Achettipalli, Onnalvadi and Senamoa villages at Hosur taluk in Krishnagiri District. About 4.300 acres of land have been identified in Krishnagiri District for the SEZ purpose. Although the site is located in southern state of Tamil Nadu, the place is closer to Bangalore and about 90 kilometer from New Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli. The estimated project cost is about Rs. 2,300 Crores. The project is jointly developed by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) along with GMR infrastructure Ltd. GMR infrastructure Ltd acts as JV Partner to implement this SEZ. The SEZ will be product based and preference will be given to Information Technology, ITES, food processing, engineering and other types of industries. The project will generate about 70,000 employments once it is completed [4,5]. |
| Project area: | 1000 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | $378,671,398 (INR 2300 Crore) |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 30,000-40,000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 2006 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) from India - Executor GMR Group (GMR) from India - Executor |
| Relevant government actors: | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Movement Against SEZs (MAS) Local Villagers Local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Local ejos Landless peasants Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Development of alternative proposals Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover Potential: Waste overflow, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Loss of livelihood, Land dispossession Potential: Displacement, Loss of landscape/sense of place, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Strengthening of participation Application of existing regulations New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | For the proposed SEZ, about 5,000 families were dependent on the acquired land for livelihood. The land is highly fertile and most of them are depend on agriculture as their sole means of living. So, land owners whose lands fall in the SEZ area have urged the government not to take over the land. The farmers proposed the government to acquire another site, instead of taking possession of agricultural land. They suggested the government can acquire about 7,500 acres of “poromboke land”(vested government land and not privately owned) [2]. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The area acquired for SEZ purpose is a cultivable land. Many villagers have been cultivating the land for generations. It is their sole means of livelihood. This sole source of livelihood has acquired by the government because the outdated government land records and surveys had earlier classified the area as unproductive and 'dry land'. Like other SEZ project where government assured the land losers of employment is not possible. It is difficult to employ unskilled local workers in the SEZ projects where it requires highly skilled specialized manpower. Also, beside the cultivable lands, other livelihood people lost has not been considered [3] |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Contributor: | Swapan Kumar Patra |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 1508 |