Nagpur: Entrepreneurs will now have to negotiate the price directly with the owners while acquiring land for developing special economic zones (SEZs) in the private sector in the State, Maharashtra Minister for Rehabilitation, Patangrao Kadam has said.

Speaking to newsmen here today, Mr Kadam said the State government would no longer act as an intermediary between the prospective developer and the owners of the land sought to be bought for a proposed private-sector SEZ. The State government would only complete the formalities necessary to enable the prospective developer to buy the land, he said.

The Central government had sent written instructions to this effect to the Government of Maharashtra about a week ago, Mr Kadam said. The scheme to provide loans to farmers in Vidarbha at an interest rate of 6 per cent would continue next year also, the minister said. Similarly, farmers who did not default on their loan repayment would be given loans at an interest rate of 2 per cent, up to a maximum of Rs 25,000, he added.