The Chief Secretary in the news item below is stated to have said that the Government will take a stand after thorough discussion on this issue. This discussion can mean something ONLY IF the Government begins with the assertion that the people of Goa have rejected SEZs, IMMEDIATELY repeals its policy on SEZs and SEZ-like set-ups and the policies associated with them such as IT Policy, Bio-tech policy which it hasn't done yet and should be doing forthwith and duly inquires and registers complaints, investigates and prosecutes the fraud pertaining to SEZs in WHICH GIDC has actively collaborated. The Government must also come clear on what exactly was the case it made before the Union Board of Approval for the de-notification of the three notified SEZs. Did it suggest invoking the General Clauses Act according to which 'notification' also includes the power to revoke notification, as it said it would? What else did it state? Yes, going by the Report, the Commerce Ministry has said that there is no provision to denotify approved and notified Special Economic Zones (SEZs). But what is it saying about the submission (IF MADE) about the General Clauses Act?
Let there be transparency. albertina Centre refuses to denotify SEZs of Goa Panaji, June 2 (PTI) The Commerce Ministry in a letter to the Goa government has said that there is no provision to denotify approved and notified Special Economic Zones (SEZs). "We have received such a letter and will be taking a stand within a couple of days after thorough discussion on the issue," State Chief Secretary J P Singh told PTI this evening. The Commerce Ministry's refusal to denotify three SEZs has come as a tough challenge for the state government that will now have to take stand on the issue within two weeks. Besides, SEZ developers have already filed petitions in the high court against stop orders issued to them. Incidentally, the Goa Bench of the Mumbai High Court, while hearing the matter today gave two weeks time to the state government to decide on the stop work order issued by it to all the three notified industrial enclaves proposed in different parts of the coastal state. The state government under immense public and political pressure had decided on December 31 last year to scrap 12 SEZs, which were at different stages of approval and notification while three were referred to the Union Board of Approval under Commerce Ministry to take final stand. PTI -- (M) 9326137682 "If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it." — Margaret Fuller
