EPZ, STZ, IT Park, Biotech Park, Food Park and now KNOWLEDGE SEZs???
SEZs by any name are a mega land grab for real estate with the Government
clearing the title of the land.
SEZs are “a country within a country” (Govt definition) and outside the purview
of the laws of the land.
Even the argument of economic growth is a colossal con as the SEZs need to show
only net profit (one rupee).
After all what has happened with the fraud of SEZs in Goa, anyone who supports
SEZs in Goa is an obvious partner in crime against our motherland.
- Pravin
In response to the following news:
Willy, Khalap, Nitin favour knowledge cities
NT NETWORK
PANAJI The deputy chairman of the State Planning Board, Dr Wilfred de Sousa on
Friday welcomed the recommendation of a sub-committee on knowledge economy
constituted by the State Planning Board under the chairmanship of the noted
Goan economist, Dr V A Pai Panandiker as regards setting up of ˜knowledge
cities or knowledge industrial parks in Goa.
The sub-committee, in its report, had used the terminology educational SEZs or
knowledge SEZs for the knowledge cities or knowledge industrial parks.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, Dr de Sousa said that such educational
centres of excellence, providing advanced education, would definitely help the
local students, a great deal. “It a very good idea,†he added.
The former deputy chairman of the State Planning Board, Mr Ramakant Khalap,
told this daily that although the report of the Dr Panandiker sub-committee
came to him during his tenure as the Planning Board deputy, no discussion took
place on the same due to various factors including short term of the then
government.
“In fact, the recommendation of the report to set up educational SEZs or
knowledge SEZs in Goa is very good, except the terminology used, now that the
special economic zones have attracted controversy around them,†Mr Khalap
said, adding, “the welcome concept suggested in the report should have stuck
to the terminology ‘knowledge cities’ or ‘knowledge industrial parks’,
instead of the SEZs.â€
“It is a fact that the state is missing on so many things as far as education
is concerned, including intellect, content and to some extent specialised
faculty,†Mr Khalap said, adding, “The modern-day education, especially in
advanced fields of science, is virtually galloping, while we have no facilities
to train our local students in them.â€
“However, the government should first approach the people and discuss with
them modalities of setting up such educational cities, followed by debates in
the House over this issue, as suggested in the report,†he observed.
The former Planning Board deputy also noted that knowledge cities or knowledge
industrial parks should not degenerate into real estate business, or commercial
ventures like educational malls, which demand high academic fees, exorbitant
capitation fees or donations.
“The government should strictly supervise such projects,†he suggested.
Welcoming the concept of knowledge cities or knowledge industrial parks, the
Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman, Mr Nitin Kuncolienkar said the
terms ‘educational SEZ’ or ‘knowledge SEZ’ are seen in bad taste due to
the mishandling of the entire SEZ issue by the government.
Stating that the government should now go for an alternate model for the
development of Goa, the GCCI chief said that non-polluting knowledge industry
is the best option as it can not only develop skill-based industry but also
train the locals in advanced education, which would be very helpful in
generation of jobs.
“Or else, a situation wherein the state will face an economic disaster in
next 5 years, is inevitable,†he added, pointing out that the trends, in this
direction, have started showing.
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