Aleixo, Kavlekar, Luizinho involved in SEZ land scam, alleges Churchill
NT News Service Margao, Oct 24 Terming special economic zones as a major scam in the making, the Save Goa Front president and PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao today alleged that three persons the Power Minister, Mr Aleixo Sequeira, the Quepem MLA and GIDC Chairman, Mr Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar and former Navelim MLA, Mr Luizinho Faleiro -- were involved in the SEZ land scam. Mr Alemao said he was not in favour of SEZ projects that would threaten the identity of Goa and Goans. I have opposed SEZs from the beginning and demand that the project should be scrapped forthwith, he said. Giving the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat a pat on his back for deciding to review the SEZs in the state, the SGF president opined that SEZs should be immediately done away with. Taking a similar stand on the proposed food park at Quitol, Balli, he said the food park should also go. The PWD Minister argued that land in Goa was a scarce commodity. Land in Goa will not increase but population will, he explained and added that with the advent of SEZs there will be influx of migrants in the state, which will invariably put pressure on the infrastructure. In yet another flip-flop, Mr Alemao said that Goa can do with only one airport in Dabolim. Vouching for the Dabolim airport, he said Mopa airport project should be scrapped once for all. He said physically and economically another airport was not feasible in Goa and quoted the Montreal-based consultant report to confirm his stand. The Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organisation on Tuesday reported that two airports were not financially viable for the state. The PWD Minister observed that since Dabolim was centrally located, the government should drop plans on the Mopa airport and vigorously pursue on upgrading the infrastructure at Dabolim. He said there was no problem if the airport came up at Sindhudurg. Land in Mopa can be used for some other constructive purpose, he added. He sought to remind that last time he had spoken to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who had agreed to provide financial support to upgrade the Dabolim airport. I even wrote to Defence Minister, Mr A K Anthony to shift the navy training base to Karwar, near the Sea Bird project, Mr Alemao disclosed. Still sulking over the South Goa parliamentary by-poll ticket issue, Mr Alemao promised to support the Congress candidate, Mr Francisco Sardinha but refused to publicly share the dais with the Congress candidate. Central leaders have requested me to attend at least one public meeting with Mr Sardinha, he disclosed and added that he will decide on that only after talking to his workers. He also disclosed that the state government was providing Rs 10,000 crore to the Centre by way of mining cess. In return the Centre was allotting a measly Rs 300 crore to the state, he added. Mr Alemao said he will place a proposal in the next state cabinet meeting to request the Centre to provide 50 per cent of the mining cess share to Goa, as was being done in other states like Bihar. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=102512 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
