The Hindu : Front Page : Goa scraps all SEZ projects

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Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008
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Goa scraps all SEZ projects

Special Correspondent

Recommendation to Centre to be withdrawn

Decision taken after consultation with stake-holders
Cabinet-endorsed SEZ policy to be debated

PANAJI: The Goa government on Monday decided to scrap all Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects in its bid to end the long-drawn public agitation which at one stage threatened to jeopardise New Year celebrations.

At a press conference at his official residence here, after a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the government decided to do away with the SEZs in their existing form after discussions, deliberations and consultations with different stakeholders, an exercise that lasted many days.

The government would debate the SEZ policy endorsed by the Cabinet on June 5, 2006 for future guidance.

Same opinion

Mr. Kamat said that apart from the recommendation of the Task Force on the State Regional Plan to scrap SEZs, the government got the same opinion from the Congress, its allies, including the Nationalist Congress Party and the Save Goa Front.

The government decided to withdraw its recommendation to the Centre pertaining to all 15 SEZ projects, of which three were already notified and four were approved but were awaiting notification.

“We have decided to write to the Union Ministry of Commerce not to process the eight SEZ proposals, which were presently put on hold. So also we will write to them not to notify four of those which have been approved but not notified,” Mr. Kamat said.

“As regards the three notified SEZs, since we do not have power to de-notify them, we are taking up the issue with the Union Commerce Ministry,” he said.

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