The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Scrapping of SEZs

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Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Scrapping of SEZs

The editorial “Out of bounds for SEZs” (Jan. 3) was a balanced analysis of how a tiny State like Goa can suffer with the advent of Special Economic Zones. The State government’s action scrapping 15 SEZs, in view of the public opinion, is welcome. The Centre’s decision not to impose SEZs on the State (contrary to the Commerce Secretary’s stand that notified SEZs cannot be de-notified or scrapped by State governments) is welcome.

It is the State that has to examine the implications of setting up a SEZ. What Goa, a rich coastal belt in the Konkan region, requires are special agriculture zones with abundant plantations and fisheries.

V. Rajagopal,

Tirupati

* * *

The editorial deserves praise for shedding light on the level of socio-economic stress the States, particularly small ones, will undergo by indiscriminate creation of SEZs. The Goa government’s announcement to scrap the SEZs, bowing to the vox populi, is welcome. Isn’t democracy, after all, a government of the people, by the people and for the people?

P.K. Parameswaran,

Chennai

* * *

There is a strong case for a sound public hearing mechanism. It will provide the much-needed avenue to the people to air their grievances against big economic projects, precluding the possibility of opposition at a later date. Governments should remember that SEZ is only one way of providing employment opportunities to the people. Goa, with its pristine natural environment, is well placed to provide more employment avenues to the people in the field of tourism. So a concept of special eco-tourism zone is more relevant to the State.

Manish Manglani,

New Delhi

* * *

The Goan mining sector is causing immeasurable damage to the environment, the result of which will be felt in the years to come. And the predominantly tourist economy of the State has caused severe inflation. SEZs would have been the ideal solution for opening up non-polluting, knowledge-based sectors and reducing dependency on the fast depleting resources and tourism.

Prasanna Natarajan,

Panaji

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