NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, May 5
The SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) has questioned the sincerity of the Goa government
with regards to the scrapping of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Goa.
Addressing a press conference here, the SVM leaders said that four months after
its public declaration to scrap the SEZs, the government has neither revoked
the June 2006 SEZ Policy nor has it instituted CBI inquiry against the obvious
fraud of the SEZs in Goa.
The Goa police was yet to register the FIR against the fraud by GIDC based on
the complaint made on October 22, 2007, they said.
They also charged that the state Government was totally inactive in canceling
the allotments made to SEZ companies by GIDC, when there was no SEZ policy in
the state. The land must be returned to the original owners as the GIDC was
seen to have abused its powers in allotting land for SEZs and it indicated that
GIDC did not need the said land for the industrial estate.
The SVM has also condemned the statement of the Union Commerce Secretary, Mr
Gopal Pillai, which reflected an attitude of ignoring the key issues of the
SEZ-related agitation of the Goan people. The SVM has also warned the
government to not indulge in acts of omission and commission with regards to
the case of Goa against SEZs. The SVM demanded the amendment of the Goa
Industrial Act 1985 and delete provisions taking powers of panchayats in
respect of industrial estates.
The SVM has joined hand with the national solidarity against SEZs and was
working closely with groups in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
and elsewhere. At the village level, the solidarity against SEZs was intact and
the recent gram sabha resolutions at Keri, Verna and elsewhere were indicative
of the peoples’ opposition to SEZs in all forms, the SVM leaders said.
They also said that a letter has been written to the SP (South Goa)Â on April
28 giving the Goa Police 15 days to register the FIR based on the complaint
made on October 22, 2007, stating further failing which the people would be
forced to take appropriate action as per the law. The SVM has further warned
the government that the people of Goa were ready to give a fitting reply to any
moves to bring back any SEZ in any form to Goa.
The protests would be kicked off with a public meeting at Keri on May 11, they
said
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