The Hindu : Karnataka News : No new SEZs in Goa, says Kamat

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Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

No new SEZs in Goa, says Kamat

Special Correspondent

Decision approving seven SEZs to be reviewed
Opposition to SEZs gains momentum

PANAJI: With widespread opposition to setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the State, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday ruled out permitting new SEZs in Goa, but reiterated his stand that he needed time to review the decision of approving seven SEZs.

The State has notified two of the seven SEZs approved by the Centre. Goa’s Movement Against Special Economic Zones (GMAS), a body spearheading an agitation against the State Government for seeking approval for SEZs without prior study, has warned that it will launch an agitation if the Government “fails” to revoke the permission granted to SEZs by November 20. The GMAS comprises political and non-political groups and organisations opposing SEZs. SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM), a non-political body comprising socio-economic groups and non-governmental organisations, has also threatened to “conduct an aggressive campaign all over the State against SEZs” if the Government “fails” to pay heed to its demand to scrap all SEZs by November 17.

The Opposition has claimed that the concept of SEZs is detrimental to this tiny State’s interests.

The Opposition to SEZs is not only getting mobilised with representatives of villages where land is earmarked for SEZs like Keri village of Central Goa, Verna, Quitol, Loutolim, Sancoale in south Goa and those of Comunidades( age-old village land communes) of South Goa joining the SVM, but is also backed by Goa Bachao Abhiyan which spearheaded an agitation against a controversial State land-use plan, and the Church backed Council for Social Justice and Peace.

The Chief Minister told presspersons on Tuesday that he would take an appropriate decision with regard to the SEZs that had been approved by the Centre after examining all aspects related to them.

Responding to deadlines by the agitators, Mr. Kamat said that he could not take an arbitrary decision on important issues such as SEZs and he would study them and discuss the issue in the Cabinet before taking a final decision on the approved SEZs.

Mr. Kamat’s argument that all the SEZs had been cleared before he took over has failed to impress the Opposition.

The SVM has demanded that the State Government stall all SEZ activities in Goa, revoke allotment of land for SEZs and withdraw the SEZ policy.

It has sought “an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged frauds in handing over large tracts of land in phase IV of the Verna Industrial Estate to SEZ developers by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation.”

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday opposed setting up of SEZs in Goa.

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