SEZ promoters in the dock?
Govt to oppose compensation claims
BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 6 Reiterating its no to setting up of Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) in the State, the Goa government has now decided to strongly
oppose claims of compensation, if any, from the promoters.
Official sources said that the State government is making a strong case to
defend its decision of going with the public sentiments against SEZs and has
plans to counter claims for compensation, if any, from the promoters.
Sources said that Board of Approvals (BoA) of SEZ in New Delhi is seized of
the issue that following Goa governments firm decision to say No to SEZ, the
question of compensation might arise. Anticipating this, the State government
is gearing up to say another no, this time to pay compensation for losses
which promoters might show.
It may be recalled that the Digambar Kamat-led government had written to the
Centre more than two months ago recommending that the approval given by the
Board to seven projects which included three notified ones, should be
withdrawn; that the eight applications which were recommended by the last
government should be treated as withdrawn and that the three notified SEZs
should be denotified.
BoA, at its last meeting chaired by Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath
February-end, when Goa SEZ issue prominently figured, agreed with the Goa
governments decision to scrap eight SEZ projects, proposals of which were
pending with the Centre.
This was after Goas case was strongly presented by Secretary (Industries) V
K Jha, IAS officer.
LEGAL VIEW: As regards the seven projects, BoA referred the matter to the law
department for its opinion. BoA will decide only after the law department
tenders its advice, sources said.
It was also the view that as per the principle of natural justice, in those
cases where BoA had granted approvals earlier, the seven should be issued show
cause notices as to why their approvals should not be withdrawn. BoA will also
get in touch with Goa government after it gets the legal opinion on the matter,
the sources said.
http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=656&cid=10
VIVA GOA
---------------------------------
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
