The solidarity of the Keri villagers is intact.
It has been they who provided the dynamism and spirit to the SEZ Virodhi Manch.
It is they who stopped the SEZ at Keri.
The Keri Nagrik Kruti Samiti under the convenorship of the Keri Sarpanch, Dr
Videsh Jhalmi consists of all the Panchas and 87 citizens. It was constituted
out of the unanimous resolve of the Gram Sabha of 2 October 2007 which opposed
the Meditab Specialites SEZ at Bhutkhamb plateau. the reasons are very simple:
any development will have a damaging impact on the ground water and the
Kullagars which sustain the people of Keri.
On the Gram Sabha of 3 Feb 2008, 67 persons attended. At the fag end of the
meeting, when less than 20 people were present, 2 citizens suggested that a
non-polluting unit of Meditabs be permitted. The Sarpanch was categorical that
the SEZ had to be de-notified first and the land had to be reverted back to the
original owners. He also said any new proposal would have to be brought under
the scrutiny of the entire village and only after study and debate a project
could be considered.
However a wrong news of what transpired was passed to some newspapers and the
correct version was put before a press conference held today. Dr Videsh Jhalmi,
SVM Convenor Charles Fernandes addressed the press. Villagers form Keri, Verna,
Loutolim, Betul and elsewhere were also present. The SEZ Virodhi Manch has
expressed its anger at the inordinate delay in actual de-notification of the
SEZs and the lack of progress in filing the FIR against the GIDC based on the
criminal complaint filed in October 2007 (backed by evidence 150 pages of
official documents procrured thr RTI). SVM has threatened to restart its
agitation against SEZs if its demand for a CBI inquiry and denotificatrion of
the 3 SEZs is not done
This is for your information.
So for those who were unnecessarily worried,
the news is that the solidarity against SEZs is strong as ever.
For those who were unnnecessarily happy with the misinformed reports,
it would be prudent to wonder why the work in the SEZs at Keri and Verna
was stopped without hurling a stone.
Simple... the numbers are on our side...
and none are ready to trade their motherland for any allurement.
amka naka SEZ amka zai PEZ!
in solidarity
Pravin Sabnis
Now you can chat without downloading messenger. Go to
http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php
