---------------------------------------------- Welcome to the FRIDAY BALCAO ----------------------------------------------
Dear Cybergaonkars on Saligaonet, Friday Balcao the fortnightly discussion event to be held on 28th July will focus on the Goa Govt. policy on Special Economic Zones. The Goa Govt. has recently announced its policy on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and the same was published in the Official Gazette in Series 1 No.15 dated 13th July 2006. The socio-economic & political implications for citizens will be enormous as the setting up of these Special Economic Zones will impact Goa being the smallest state in the country. Some of points covered in this policy are: The setting up of Special Economic Zones will be permitted in the public, private joint sector or by the State Governments. These SEZ's are to be deemed foreign territory for tariff and trade operations. The State Government will take appropriate steps to declare the SEZ's as Industrial Townships to enable the SEZ's to function as self-governing autonomous municipal bodies. The State Government shall make appropriate and exclusive arrangements within the SEZs for the maintenance of law and order. It is therefore evident that these SEZ's will impact democracy and law & order in Goa as they are going to enjoy special privileges over the existing business houses & residents. It may be recalled that earlier the Govt. had tried to convert Goa into a Free Port after the Ranauq Singh Committee had identified the State as the most suitable location for the same. Subsequently this proposal went a step further and various models of the Free Port were being suggested and studied by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) New Delhi. The study by IIFT even recommended a casino based Free Port for Goa modelled on Macau which did not materialize due to stiff opposition from various quarters. The present experience of the Industrial Estates managed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is interesting as they were de linked from the Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils in whose jurisdiction they were set up. Issues linked to Industrial Estates such as power shortages, air pollution, sanitation, garbage disposal, toxic & hazardous scrap, crime, taxation and migrant labour influx have been regularly debated in the village Gram sabhas & Municipal Council meetings. In matters of Law and Order the earlier controversial proposal of an Auxiliary Police Force contained in the Goa Police Bill (which did not get the assent of the President of India) seems to have resurfaced in the case of the SEZ's. What will be the impact of the current SEZ policy on the forthcoming Panchayat and Assembly elections ? Will the residents of the various villages and towns be used for their votes while the politicians will convert some of the present Industrial Estates into SEZ's of the future ? Was there in fact a plan to declare the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula and the proposed IT Park at Socorro as SEZ's so that they can then be converted into Industrial Townships to enable the SEZ's to function as self-governing autonomous municipal bodies ? Is the land for the proposed Pharma Park at Keri-Savoi Verem in Ponda Taluka, the IT Retreat at Mandrem in Pernem Taluka, the Food Park in Naqueri-Quitol in Quepem Taluka, the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula in Tiswadi Taluka, the IT Park at Socorro in Bardez Taluka and the Industrial Estates in Verna & Cuncolim in Salcete Taluka part of the Master Plan for development of Industrial Townships ? How does the proposed Mopa Airport and Expressway fit in this Master Plan ? Will SEZ policy of the Goa Govt. eventually facilitate Goa being a remodelled Free Port ? The Balcao discussion will cover these questions and also evolve an agenda for action by citizens on the issue. Friday Balcao will be from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa and is open to members of the public. We invite you to attend the Friday Balcao event but if you cannot attend, then please send your views by post to FRIDAY BALCAO Post Box 78, Mapusa 403 507 or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] best wishes, Roland Martins ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/402 - Release Date: 7/27/2006 _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
