Dears, In one of the ridiculous things that can happen only in Goa, a TASK FORCE headed by the Chief Minister has recommended to the GOVERNMENT OF GOA [headed by who else, except the CM of Goa] that it srap the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state terming them ''detrimental to the overall interest of Goa.'' This is exactly what the various anti-SEZ groups have been saying all along. In fact, the SEZs had no locus standi AFTER the Regional Plan 2011 was revoked.
It is now to be seen what the Central "Board of Approvals" for SEZ has to say ...provided the state Government actually accepts the recommendation of the Task Force. It is quite possible that the Goa Government rejects it outright. I have seen this happen when the same person headed the Directorate of Agriculture and the RDA or two departments in the Secretariat, specially if one of them was finance or a funding department. Each organisation has its own priorities and the head, even if common, has to act as per the good of that organisation. The issue is far from over, folks. We have seen that in the agitation against Regional Plan 2011 [that should have impacted the ODPs and the SEZs]. We may see it again. No one has seen tomorrow. Mog asundi. Miguel Goa CM proposes to scrap Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Press Trust of India Sunday, December 30, 2007 (Panaji) A task force headed by Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on Sunday recommended the scrapping of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state terming them ''detrimental to the overall interest of Goa.'' ''The intention of permitting SEZs is to reap the benefits of industrialisation and consequent employment generation. These can be served without SEZs (also) if incentives are extended to incoming industries,'' internationally renowned architect and vice-chairman of the task force, Charles Correa said while reading out the body's resolution in Panaji. ''The required industrial development can be achieved, if government focuses on providing excellent infrastructure in terms of roads, water and power to the incoming industrial units,'' Correa said. The task force took into account the growing anti-SEZ sentiments in the state. However, it maintained silence on Rajiv Gandhi Habitat Project which has been opposed by locals terming it as a ''real estate scam''. The task force, comprising veteran architects including Correa, Edgar Rebello, S P Deshpande, Dean D'cruz, Rahul Deshpande, Convener of Goa Bachao Abhiyaan Oscar Rebello, representative of Goa Chamber of Housing Industry Datta Nayak and representative of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Blaise Costa Bir, was set up to work out a regional plan 2021 for Goa. The anti-SEZ movement in the state which was initiated by BJP was later joined by the Congress, the NCP and Catholic Church. Courtesy: NDTV.com -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
