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‘White paper’ on Goa SEZs next week: Digambar Kamat

PANAJI: Faced with continued public opposition over the special economic zone (SEZ) projects, the Goa Government has reiterated its decision to examine all the seven approved SEZ projects, including two already notified, through an Infrastructure Committee of the State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

Talking to presspersons after a Cabinet meeting on Friday, the Chief Minister announced that the Government would come out with a “white paper” over the SEZ issue early next week.

The Chief Minister expressed a “personal view” that “though the SEZ projects are notified by the Centre, the State Government must have power to denotify any project”.

He disclosed that the ongoing development activities at the site of all the SEZ projects had been put on hold.

When it was pointed out that already some of the promoters had approached court complaining about the alleged pressure put by the Government to “voluntarily stop the ongoing works”, Mr. Kamat said, “Everybody is free to approach the courts.”

On the upcoming project of Information Technology Habitat, which is also facing opposition from the local villagers led by MLA and former Minister Atanasio Monserrate, at Taleigao in north Goa, Mr. Kamat said that that the committee would initiate a dialogue with the agitators next week over the issue.

In what is seen as a move to placate the opposition to the project, the Chief Minister said that the Government was willing to reconsider the proposed mall and housing projects coming under the IT Habitat, if the people had apprehensions about them.

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