We at South Goa Public Interest Action Group oppose the setting up of SEZ in this tiny 25th State of India for the reasons as mentioned below:
a) State has a fragile land mass 3702 km2. Of which 1224 square kms is under forest cover. Only a balance 2478 square kms is available for both agri and non agriculture purpose. b) Lack of proper educational / vocational / technical and professional policy since Liberation 1961 has resulted in a mismatch of industries needs hence in migration is changing the demographic composition of the State, which is detrimental to the socio cultural and traditions of the State. c) Mining / fisheries / agriculture/ tourism /real estate & construction /transport industry has witnessed the influx of nearly 4 lacs in migrants to meet the industries needs. d) Except for 15 years domicile status as a fragile means for checking the influx of in migrants in Government and Government subsidised industries, SEZ will be bereft of all such taboos. e) Infrastructure in the State e.g power, water sewerage, mass transportation, has put severe pressures on the indigenous population of fourteen lacs of which around four lacs are non Goans as on date. f) Real Estate and Housing prices have sky rocketted due to the foreigners, non Goans investing heavily for a piece of land in this State; g) Goa today has become a "global village" with persons of almost all nationalities residing in the State; it is too fragile to admit more - to rid the present lot is our top priority. h) SEZ's benefit from fiscal incentives which cut into the States revenue which would inventually lead to heavy taxation on indigenuos population to make up the shortfall. i) the land available for infrastructure relating to non production activity will create a city within a village and detrimental to those within the periphery of the SEZ. As of now the Industrial estates have been out of the purview of Village Panchayat and Municipal Acts and Rules. We at SGPIAG therefore demand that the Government immediately recommends IMMEDIATE REVOCATION of the two approvals granted thus far for the Querim and Verna SEZs by the 19 member panel of the Board of Approvals under SEZ Act 2005 and Rules 2006 which included a nominee of the Goa Government and withdraw all approvals given by the State Government to others in the pipeline. For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000 sd/- TERENCE MAZARELO PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) 1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa India [EMAIL PROTECTED] weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd FAX +91 832 2712430 HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584 Tel +91 832 2731373 (O) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOA/INDIA visit:www.goidirectory.nic.in,www.goagovt.nic.in Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/
