October 29, 2007
MEMORANDUM TO CHIEF MINISTER, GOVERNMENT OF GOA
IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF SEZ POLICY
We write to draw your attention to the news item appearing in the Economic
Times, Saturday, October 27, 2007, entitled "NO SEZ IF LOCALS DON'T WANT IT:
NATH" (copy enclosed for your perusal). In the report, Mr. Kamal Nath,
Commerce Minister and one of the strongest proponents of SEZs in the Central
Government, has said "The Government can revoke permission and scrap any SEZ
if people do not want it". In the report, the Central Commerce Minister
further makes it abundantly clear that the government will not hesitate to
intervene even after work on the SEZ has begun and all necessary permissions
granted. He says "If people don't want it, it will not go ahead." The PMAS
salutes the Union Commerce Minister's democratic and people oriented stance
on the SEZ issue.
The people of Goa have said a resounding NO to SEZs through gram sabha
resolutions and the South Goa Zilla Panchayat resolution. Therefore, in the
light of the Union Commerce Minister's statement, there seems to be no
reason for the Goa Government not to immediately put a stop to all ongoing
work on SEZ projects in Goa and in fact, forthwith withdraw the SEZ policy
for the state, in view of the strong people's opposition to the same.
The SEZ policy is a life and death issue for Goa. We are sure that as Chief
Minister you would not wish to preside over and be responsible for what will
surely go down as the biggest government created disaster in the history of
liberated Goa. Therefore, the PMAS sincerely appeals to you to stand by the
people and not condone the serious lapses of previous state Governments, who
have neither applied their minds vis a vis the disastrous implications of
this policy on the state nor have consulted the people and shown any
transparency in their dealings on this issue, but withdraw the SEZ policy
forthwith for Goa before the people from all over the state are compelled to
act in order to make their voices heard and display their determination to
protect the state from the Government's destructive SEZ policy.
The PMAS is also surprised at your statement that the GIDC is formed under
the Companies Act and as such you do not feel the need for an inquiry. Even
if the GIDC is formed under the Companies Act , the allegations and the FIR
filed by us at various police stations cannot be swept under the carpet
since it involves large tracts of public land and huge losses for the
public exchequer. Therefore, the people of Goa have a right to know the
truth about the functioning of GIDC. This can only come about through a CBI
inquiry in the interests of objectivity, transparency and credibility.
When the people's demand for a CBI inquiry is vociferously and publicly
echoed by those at the centre of the controversy, namely Aleixo Sequeira,
Power Minister and MLA and Chandrakant Kavlekar, Chairman, GIDC and MLA, it
is perplexing why you are reluctant to call for a CBI inquiry in the
pursuit of truth, taking shelter instead under the Companies Act. Surely you
will appreciate that an impartial inquiry will either clear your colleagues
of all charges or make them accountable for their deeds whilst holding
public office.
Looking forward to your early action
Yours truly,
For and on behalf of PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT AGAINST SEZS
Charles Fernandes
Convenor
Encl: Press cutting from Economic Times, Saturday, October 27, 2007
