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Goanet mourns the passing of Jorge de Abreu Noronha in Portugal - Nov 27/07 http://tinyurl.com/2dk2bl http://tinyurl.com/29kpdx --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For favour of early publication, please. Averthanus _____ The People versus the Government. Averthanus L. D'Souza. With regard to the setting up of the Special Economic Zones in Goa, the battle lines have been drawn and the picture is as clear as it can possibly be. It is the people of Goa versus the Government of Goa. The public opposition to the SEZs cannot be more comprehensive and more united than it is now. The popular uprising against SEZs is paralleled only by the movement against the Regional Plan, 2011 led by the Goa Bachao Abhiyan. In fact, the anti-SEZ movement surpasses, by far, the public manifestation of opposition to the Government on this issue. Village Panchayat after Village Panchayat, Gram Sabhas in all the areas which were indicated for the setting up of the SEZs have all unanimously rejected the proposal. The unanimity cannot be more obvious and more strident than it is now. In addition, even the coalition partner of the present Government, the NCP has openly voiced its opposition to the SEZ. The BJP, of course, has found a convenient political weapon to beat the Congress with. In the face of such a unified opposition to a Government proposal, it would be sheer stupidity for the Digambar Kamat Government to persist in its efforts to impose the SEZs on the citizens of Goa. Under the circumstances, there is no point whatsoever of 'reviewing' the decision which was made. It is clear from the public opposition that the decision was wrong. The Government should not dilly-dally any longer, but should explicitly and unambiguously make a public announcement that the plan to set up SEZs in Goa has been scrapped - totally and irrevocably. The only lobby which seems to be pressurizing the Government to continue with the policy is the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is understandable because the industrial and commercial interests represented by the GCCI have an important stake in the SEZs. Apart from getting lands which have been acquired at a pittance by the Government, these lobbies will be able to set up and run projects which will be outside the scope of the ordinary laws of the State. They will be exempt from paying local taxes, even though they will get the benefit of the infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, water supply and garbage disposal, which will be provided by the State Government out of the State's Exchequer. In short, the industries will get a great deal of something for nothing. The only sop which they have been dangling before the citizens is the creation of jobs for the local unemployed youth. However, the youth have seen through this false promise and have rejected the offer. In any case, the destruction of Goa's physical environment and social and cultural atmosphere far outweighs the measly benefits which the industries have been offering. Moreover, it has become clear that the developers have used the excuse of industrial development for massive real estate development. Recent newspaper investigations have revealed that land has been allotted to huge builders from Delhi and Bombay, who have no competence whatsoever in industrial development. The cat is now out of the bag. In the name of industrial development, land will be used for large scale commercial purposes. It is nothing short of a massive fraud which is sought to be perpetrated against the citizens of Goa. The citizens have rightly rejected the entire plan. The very concept of Special Economic Zones, outside the normal administrative and legal control of a State Government, is abhorrent to democracy and to democratic institutions. In a subtle way, big businesses are trying to set up parallel political authorities, outside the purview of duly elected governments. Even the law and order within the SEZs will fall outside the purview of the State Government, which will have to seek the approval of the Development Commissioner before intervening in any problem inside the SEZ areas. It was announced that the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has convened a meeting on December 8th 2007 in the Conference Hall of the GCCI to discuss the implications of the SEZs. The GCCI has invited several NGOs and private citizens who are known to oppose the SEZ plan to present their points of view on the subject. What is intriguing about this exercise of the GCCI is the fact that it is persisting in its efforts to "soften up" the opposition to the SEZ by pretending to consult the NGOs and other citizens. For one thing, the popular protest against the SEZs is directed against the Government, which has betrayed the trust of the people. No public mention has been made of the role of the GCCI in the plan to set up SEZs. One wonders, therefore, why the GCCI has taken it upon itself to shield the Government from public criticism. The policy has been made by the Government, which is now facing the flak. Secondly, it is the Government which will have to take cognizance of the public opposition to SEZs. Why has the GCCI assumed the role of intermediary between the public and the Government? Thirdly, and finally, the opposition by the citizens is very clear and unambiguous. No purpose will be served by having a debate on this issue, at this late stage. The meeting called by the GCCI appears to be ill-timed and ill-advised. There is no more scope for discussion. The SEZ decision has to be scrapped. Averthanus L. D'Souza, D-13, La Marvel Colony, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004. Tel: (0832) 2453628. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>