photos of SVM pledge before Bhootkhamb& martyr Nilesh Naik

SVM renews the fight against the fraud of SEZs

Keri villagers resolve to oppose SEZ
16 Nov 2008, 0512 hrs IST, TNN
PONDA: In an attempt to resist the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Bhutkhamb-Keri in Ponda, the villagers of Keri resolved on Saturday to oppose the SEZ if government tried to impose it within the land acquired by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation
(GIDC) at Bhutkhamb plateau.
The villagers on Saturday convened a meeting near the land acquired by GIDC at Bhutkhamb under the banner of Nagrik Kruti Samiti, Keri (NKSK) and ‘SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM)’ to observe the first anniversary of protest against the SEZ.
The NKSK convenor Ramkrishna Jalmi, said that Keri villagers were fighting against hazardous plants since 1995 when they opposed the setting up of the Nylon 6,6 project because of the health hazards it posed. This time around too, the opposition to the SEZ was because it had no benefits for locals, but would instead harm the natural water resources, said Jalmi
Peter Gama, an activist of SEZVM from Verna, who attended the meeting, said that the agitation against SEZ began from Keri and had reached Verna, Betul and other places. Keri villagers created zeal in the activists from Verna and their agitation succeeded in restraining the setting up of SEZs in Goa.
Pravin Sabnis, another activist, defined the SEZ as a ‘foreign country’ inside our villages, which has independent rules and regulations. He said SEZs are of no benefit to the locals. It would generate neither employment nor any facility for locals.
Activist Arvind Bhatikar said that even if the government scrapped the SEZs in Goa the land would be with the GIDC and appealed to the people to force the local legislator to amend the law and have the acquired land returned to the village.
The secretary of NKSK, Amol S Kerkar, said that the agitation would continue until the government fully revoked the SEZs in Goa and the land acquired for the purpose was returned to the villages.

SEZ Virodhi Manch threatens stir, to hold rally on Nov 21

HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 24
Agitated by the government’s indifferent attitude towards SEZ (special economic zones) issue, the SEZ Virodhi Manch is in the process of reviving its agitation and will hold a mass rally at Lohia Maidan on November 21 to expose the government on its alleged “double talk” and demand cancellation of the SEZ policy, and also compel the government to hold CBI inquiry against officials of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for alleged fraudulent allotment of industrial plots to SEZ developers.
The SEZ Virodhi Manch spokesperson Praveen Sabnis told a press conference on Friday here that the government has not scraped the SEZ Policy nor ordered investigation into “fraudulent allotment” of plots to SEZ developers even as a police complaint was filed a year ago.
He alleged that government’s so far response has been lukewarm -- persistent refusal of the government to withdraw the SEZ Policy exposes hidden agenda of the government.
The SVM has warned the government not to take the people of Goa for a ride by allowing Goa to be monopolised by a few real estate giants under the guise of setting up industry, all the while advising Goan youth to set up their own small scale industry without offering them any concessions.
Condemning the statements by Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath that land allotted by GIDC to SEZ developers could remain with those developers to enable them to develop industry under normal rules and regulations of the GIDC, even after scrapping of the SEZ, Sabnis said, on November 21 government would be given a deadline to act on demands made.
He said, the entire allotment of about 40 lakh sq meters to SEZ promoters in three different villages are earmarked as industrial estates by the government and declared as notified areas , and hence it is unfair and goes against the rules to allow allotted land to be used by SEZ developers. It strongly demanded that vast tracks of land allotment at Verna, Keri and Sancoale made to five real estate developers by GIDC should be taken back before it goes into hands of real estate sharks.

PRESS NOTE issued on Sunday 5 October 2008

The SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) strongly condemns the statements of the Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Kamal Nath who wants Goa government to allow developers of three notified SEZs to set up some other industry on the land allotted to them. The SVM warns the CM Digambar Kamat, MP Shantaram Naik and others of facilitating the entry of the SEZs through the back door.
Since 22 October 2007, complaints were filed at various Police Stations, against the fraud of the process of application and approval of SEZs. Time and again, the SVM has used documents procured (under RTI) from the GIDC to uncover the illegal and immoral scam of the SEZs in Goa.
The SVM has also exposed the malafide intentions and actions of the Government of Goa which is only paying lip service to the opposition of the Goans to the menace of SEZs. It is obvious that the Government is seeking to make a fool of all the Goan people who have unanimously opposed SEZs in Goa.
The SVM also demands that the Government should not enter into any deal with any of the developers who have committed illegal acts to get their SEZs approved or notified. On the contrary, the SEZ promoters should compensate the concerned villages for the destruction committed by them and they should also face the penalty and punishment for subverting and manipulating the laws of the land.
The SVM warns the Governments at the State and at the Centre to not cheat the people of Goa on the issue of SEZs. The SVM resolves to get back to the streets to remind the politicians and the SEZ promoters that the SEZs in any form, will not be permitted to enter Goa.
Yours truly,
Charles Fernandes
Convenor - SVM

Govt playing dirty on SEZs

Kamal Nath fields for SEZ developers
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 4 – If you thought doors have been shut on SEZ (special economic zones) developers in Goa, you are mistaken. Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath reportedly wants Goa government to allow developers of three notified SEZs to set up some other industry on the land allotted to them.
In a new development on the SEZ front, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik on Saturday disclosed that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was likely to call three SEZ developers, whose zones have been notified, for discussions over setting up any viable projects other than SEZs.
Naik mentioned that the Kamat is meeting these developers on the instruction of Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath to explore viable options other than SEZs. The three notified SEZs belong to Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, an associate of Cipla Ltd (for pharmaceuticals at Keri Ponda), Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd (for biotechnology at Sancoale) and K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd (for IT and enabled services at Verna).
Nath has also told these developers he would look into their proposal so as to help them set up their units in other States, Naik said. “The developers had met Nath when the matter was pending in court to impress upon the commerce minister to negotiate for some other plots in Goa. It is very likely that their proposal may not be acceptable to us, but for industrialists having a plot in Goa is a matter of prestige,” he observed.
He recalled that the Attorney General had mentioned that there is no law or rule to de-notify the three SEZs. “Rule book is one thing and the ground reality is another. The ground realities don’t favour SEZs in Goa,” Naik impressed.

CM to meet 3 SEZ developers
NT NETWORK Posted on 2008-10-05
PANAJI- The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat will soon meet the three developers of the special economic zones - Cipla's Meditab Specialities, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and K Raheja Corporation - which were notified by the state government, before taking the decision of scrapping the SEZs proposed for Goa.
The Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Shantaram Naik on Saturday, addressing a press conference said that soon after the state government reached a decision of scrapping all the proposed special economic zones in Goa, the developers of the three notified SEZs met the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath to brief him about the huge investments made by them in the SEZs.
?Mr Kamal Nath assured them of alternate land in other states, which had plans to set up the special economic zones,? Mr Naik revealed, informing that the three developers requested the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry to let them take up viable alternate projects in Goa and also sought land for the same.
?Though the proposed meeting between the Chief Minister and the three SEZ developers would discuss this issue,? the Rajya Sabha MP said, ?Looking at the kind of projects these SEZ developers are interested in, I have a feeling that the state government would not be able to fulfill their demands.? ?As for the recent statement of the Attorney General about there being no provision for de-notifying the notified SEZs,? Mr Naik said, ?The rule book is one thing while the ground realities is a different matter altogether.? ?And the ground reality is that the Goans are not in favour of SEZs,? he maintained.

report in Economic Times

Court to hear developers' plea in Goa SEZ muddle

7 Sep, 2008, 1857 hrs IST, IANS

PANAJI: The controversy over special economic zones in Goa is headed for a showdown with the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court scheduled to hear Monday a bunch of petitions filed by SEZ developers against cancellation of land allotted to them.

The Goa government, under public pressure, was forced to take a policy decision to scrap the mammoth SEZ projects, but the central government has refused to play ball. The union commerce ministry has maintained that once the Board of Approvals, a nodal agency for SEZs, notified a project, the state has no powers to scrap it.

The seven SEZ promoters - Meditabh Specialities Pvt Ltd, Cipla group, Peninsular Pharma Research Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distributors, Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow - approached the high court, after the Goa Industries Development Corporation (GIDC) served notices asking them why the land allotted to them should not be withdrawn in view of the state government's new policy. The GIDC is the government agency through which Goa has acquired about 3.8 million square metres of land for setting up SEZs.

The high court had ordered a status quo on the issue, until the matter came up for hearing Sep 8. The allegedly hasty manner in which large chunks of land were allotted to industrial houses had led to numerous civic campaigns and a series of public demonstrations demanding that the government scrap the SEZ policy. It forced the Digambar Kamat-led government to take a public stance against SEZ. The government said on the floor of the assembly during its recently concluded session that "in public interest, the government has taken a policy decision not to permit any SEZ in Goa."

But organisations like the Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA), spearheading the campaign against SEZs and other mega projects in the state, feel that Chief Minister Kamat was not walking the talk. "The plans in the Sancoale SEZ case were approved by the GIDC on April 15, a long while after the government's 'decision' to scrap SEZ," alleged GBA spokesperson Pravin Sabnis.

Nitin Kunkolienkar, a GIDC director, told IANS the corporation would take the land back even as he maintained Goa needed at least two to three SEZ, which could host non-polluting industries to bring forth economic development and generate jobs. "The contentious issue right now is the quantum of land given to the SEZ developers. It (land) should not be so much," Kunkolienkar said, adding that he was opposed to real estate development in the name of SEZ.

GIDC BIGGEST LAND GRABBER IN GOA

by JONQUIL SUDHIR (Goan Observer)
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation will control 1,76,94,434 square metres of land in the state if it acquires all the land it proposes to.

THE APPREHENSION that the government is seizing land under a new garb, after the diabolical regional plan 2011 was scrapped, could well be true considering the fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) plans to have over one crore square metres of Goan land under its control. This was revealed during the recently concluded Legislative Assembly session, when the Chief Minister replied to a question by Laxmikant Parsekar.

Chief Minister Digamber Kamat replied that the GIDC has already acquired 14,30,534 sq ms between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008. Out of this, a whopping 13,11,731 sq ms has been acquired for a food park and industrial estate in Quitol, Quepem, while the GIDC is in the process of further acquiring another 1,28,000 sq ms. Betul Hospitality Pvt Ltd has already been allotted 4,28,155 sq ms so that it can set up “auxiliary services to the food park including hospitality and service sector units. Why a hospitality company needs over four lakh square metres of land to set up hospitality and service sector units has not been explained, raising doubts that a mammoth project, initially planned under the Regional Plan 2011, is coming up in Quitol.

CLAREMONT
IT will be recalled that though the government had earmarked a large plot in Quepem for a food park, it was later discovered that a UK-based company called Claremont International was hard-selling a plush resort complex proposed to be built on the property. Though its website claimed the resort was to be set up in Canacona, the survey numbers matched those of the plots allotted for the Food Park in Quitol.

Boasting of a 150-acre plot with “significant beach frontage”, Claremont’s plans for the complex included a lagoon, a five star hotel, over 200 suites, 800 villas, a wedding hall, conference facilities, a harbour, a spa, swimming pools, tennis courts, a casino and even a cinema! Claiming that construction would begin in October 2007 and end in December 2009, Claremont International had even invited buyers to invest in the property. Since no details have been provided about the companies that will be allotted plots in the ‘food park’, there are serious concerns that the food park is a mere cover-up for Claremont’s grandiose housing complex.

LAND HAUL
OVER the last two years, the GIDC has been in the process of acquiring 13,30,461 sq ms. The majority of this land – 5,38,715 sq ms – is being acquired to expand the Tuem Industrial Estate in Pernem. The GIDC plans on expanding the Sancoale Industrial Estate and the Bethora Industrial Estate by another 1,81,200 sq ms and 1,81,100 sq ms respectively. The Corporation is also acquiring land to develop the Cacora, Pilerne and Verna industrial estates.

In addition to this, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation also proposes to acquire 1,49,33,439 sq ms. The GIDC appears to have set its sights on the hitherto relatively untouched Canacona, where it proposes to acquire 94,05,334 sq ms. While 20,00,000 sq ms is planned for Phase-I of an industrial estate, 51,80,259 sq ms has been proposed for Phase-II. The remaining 22,25,075 sq ms has been proposed for an industrial estate in Poinguinim. The second larger land acquisition planned is for an industrial estate in Melauli, Sattari where 13,81,225 sq ms is the GIDC target. It also wants 13,49,500 sq ms for a knowledge park in Cortalim and 3,54,445 sq ms for an industrial estate in Dhargal, Pernem.

The Corporation also wants to acquire land for numerous other projects across the state – these include expansion of the Cuncolim, Verna, Colvale and Pilerne industrial estates as well as for a knowledge park in Cortalim. Interestingly, the GIDC also plans to acquire 43,560 sq ms to construct an approach road to land acquired by it in Sancoale!

INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
FROM January 2006 to July 31, 2008, 259 plots have been allotted to industries while the government has admitted to allotting 11 plots to Special Economic Zones (in the reply, the Chief Minister has not stated that the land will be revoked). The residents of Verna have been agitating against the intrusion of industry on their land and replies to assembly questions reveal that they have good reason to be aggrieved. Over the past year-and-a-half, the GIDC has allotted 29,75,399 sq ms of land to 89 companies in the Verna Industrial Estate.

Goan entrepreneurs may be even more irked as small-scale local companies have been allotted the land at a rate between Rs. 650 and Rs. 1300 per square metre, while bigwigs like the Rahejas and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd have been allotted land in Phase-IV of the industrial estate for Rs. 600 per sq m (for main project areas) and Rs. 100 per sq m (for approach roads). Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd has been allotted 3,86,665 sq ms. K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd were allotted 10,59,118 sq ms and 5,19,832 sq ms respectively. Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd was given 1,43,176 sq ms and Max Grow Finlease Pvt Ltd, 2,03,445 sq ms. Giovanni Karl Vaz, former MLA of Mormugao, was allotted land in the Verna Industrial Estate for Rs. 1300 per sq m to construct a hotel.

In the Honda Industrial Estate, a total of 1,31,958 sq ms has been allotted to seven companies at the rate of Rs. 120 to Rs. 300 per sq m. While 1429 sq ms of land has been allotted to two companies in the Pilerne Industrial Estate at the rate of Rs. 225 to Rs. 400 per sq m. At the Kundaim Industrial Estate, 20 companies have been allotted a total of 90,299 sq ms for Rs. 150-500 per sq m while 67,457.50 sq ms in the Shiroda Industrial Estate has been allotted to Miditech Pvt Ltd by the GIDC Board for Rs. 275 per sq m. In Pissurlem, 19 companies have been allotted land. Incidentally, Nicomet Industries Ltd and Sunrise Zinc Ltd, steel rolling mills which were found to be highly polluting, in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate were also allotted 20,800 sq ms and 10,000 sq ms respectively for land fill sites!

UNUTILISED
FURTHER adding to the speculation that land has been allotted to parties with dubious intentions is the fact that 118 plots have been left unutilised, while only 97 plots have been utilised for the same purpose it had been allotted for. Though Olinda Miranda was allotted 1000 sq ms for storage in the Colvale Industrial Estate in March 2006, she is yet to use it. A total of 30,615.5 sq ms has been left unused in the Honda Industrial Estate while 40,829 sq ms is yet to be utilised in the Kundaim Industrial Estate. After opposition from Goans against SEZs, comapanies allotted land n Phase – IV of the Verna Industrial Estate have not been able to progress with their projects. Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd has also been unable to set up shop in Sancoale for the same reason.

In the Verna Industrial Estate, of the 89 companies that were allotted land, 66 have left the land unused. Prominent among these are Karl Vaz (3036 sq ms), Lupin Ltd (33,000 sq ms) and Roopa Kunkolienkar. In the Sanguem Industrial Estate, 94,120 sq ms has not been put to use; among those who have failed to use the land are Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd (38,000 sq ms) and Dinesh Dessai (25,100 sq ms). Karl Vaz’ property was later transferred to Muktar Minerals Pvt Ltd while Roopa Kunkolienkar’s was transferred to Shaikh Nadim Haveri. Three separate plots allotted to Power Engineering Pvt Ltd at the Tuem Industrial Estate was transferred to Shree Mahalsa Power Rentals, Precision Components Pvt Ltd and Genset Controls Pvt Ltd, all sister concerns of Power Engineering Pvt Ltd.

The fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has acquired and continues to acquire large tracts of land across the length and breadth of the state, despite the fact that many of these plots remain unused, perhaps gives credence to the belief that the projects proposed under the Regional Plan 2011 are still alive and may proceed through a back door – the GIDC.

ALL´S NOT WELL

Raheja borewells at Verna under scanner
Preetu Nair TNN
Panaji: Four borewells dug by SEZ developer K Raheja Corp at the Verna industrial estate to meet their construction water needs got them a show cause notice from the water resources department, asking why action shouldn´t be initiated against them for violating the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act.
In response, Raheja has admitted to digging the bore wells and said the four borewells were dug, "before the notification of the scheduled area."
Confirming this, executive engineer and ground water officer, Margao, H M Rangaraju said, "We had issued show cause notices to two companies, one of them being Raheja, as they had dug bore wells without permission. Raheja later obtained permission from the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and has submitted an application to us to register the same. But we are yet to decide on this."
Raheja spokesperson Shabbir Kanchwala stated that they are currently buying ready mix concrete and so require less water and once the factory is operational they will be recycling water. "We will create water bodies like ponds, water falls and fountains in our campus. We will use recycled water and will not discharge it into existing waste or storm water lines. Besides, bottled water will be provided for drinking. This will not burden the existing water discharge infrastructure in the state."
The Raheja move has upset the Loutolim village panchayat members, who have passed a resolution demanding the closure or capping of these bore wells which have dried up the natural spring in the village. They informed the water resources department on June 4, 2008 about this and requested the department, "To take immediate steps to revoke all permission issued and stop issuing any further NOCs for sinking bore wells in Verna industrial estate."
It is pertinent to note that Raheja, in their application to GIDC, had stated that they would require 40 lakh litres of water a day. In the lease deal, GIDC had stated that they shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZ and the company should make their own arrangement for water during the construction stage.

no walk... only misleading talk by Goa CM

The CM is only talking...

WHY can't Mr KAMAT walk the talk?

Silence protest to get MLAs to speak

Over 80 activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) stood in silent protest at the approach road of the Mandovi Bridge. The silent protest sought to draw the attention of the MLAs to walk the talk during the Assembly sessions. Placards, posters and banners were held by the protestors.

SEZ: Unending saga

Editorial in today's oHeraldo
SEZ: Unending saga

It is the government’s continued inaction on the issue of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that is responsible for incidents like the one on Tuesday, when activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) and the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) barged into the site of the Raheja SEZ at Verna on learning that work had recommenced, forcibly stopped it, and caused the labourers at the site to flee. This would not at all have been necessary, had the government systematically probed into the SEZ mess and proceeded against the fraudsters.

In fact, it is the government’s reticence in the matter that has emboldened the Union Commerce Ministry, which seems to be unequivocally on the side of the SEZ promoters, to make outrageous and incorrect statements in the matter, and place unreasonable demands on the Goa government.

The fact is that all the SEZs have applied for land that is hugely over their real requirements. For example, why does a company that sets up its BPO units in one or two buildings in Mumbai, want 4 lakh square metres for similar units in Goa? Then, there are huge irregularities in the land allotments. These are well documented by the anti-SEZ activists through the Right to Information (RTI). They have been widely publicised through the media, both print and electronic, and never been adequately challenged, either by the SEZ promoters, the government or the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

Simply setting up an inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge into these irregularities would have given the government all the ammunition it needed to conclusively end the controversy and justifiably cancel the land allotment. But it has resolutely refused to do so.

Why? Is it because too many functionaries belonging to the ruling party would get implicated in the resulting scam? Is it because a number of those that were willing accomplices in this massive fraud continue to occupy very high positions?

Whatever the reason, the refusal of the government is very intriguing. To start with, though it asserts that SEZs will never be allowed, the government is yet to officially denotify its SEZ policy. After the SEZ promoters approached the High Court, it withdrew the ‘Stop Work’ order it had issued on 31 December. It simultaneously cancelled the land allotments. However, these were cancelled by the IDC, but this was on the basis that SEZs were ‘against’ government policy, not because of any irregularities in allotment. Considering that the official SEZ policy is still in force, this cancellation is unlikely to survive a court challenge, just like the earlier ‘Stop Work’ order.

In the meanwhile, the Union Commerce Ministry is keeping up the pressure. It first said it had no power to denotify the notified SEZs. This is bunk. A plain perusal of the General Clauses Act will show that the power to notify embodies the power to denotify, and all that is required is due process. It has recently changed tack to say the SEZs will not be denotified till the Goa government compensates the SEZ promoters. This arrogant and partisan behaviour needs to be tackled at the highest level, but our Chief Minister is keeping mum.

The government’s deliberate inaction is obvious, and isn’t going to fool the people. To avoid further law and order problems, the government needs to look into the land allotments, serve notice on the SEZ promoters, expose the irregularities, cancel the land allotments, and take back the land, legally. That’s the only way out of this mess.

SVM accuses Rahejas of indulging in false accusations

NT NETWORK Posted on 2008-08-21
PANAJI - The SEZ Virodhi Manch has condemned the allegations made against peaceful protesters by the local officials of K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd and charged that it was a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the SEZ Virodhi Manch, which has been agitating peacefully against the fraud of the SEZs in Goa. In a press note issued on Wednesday, the SVM warned the Raheja SEZ officials not to indulge in false accusations and demanded withdrawal of the cases registered with the police failing which the Manch has warned that the proactive, peaceful resistance will be intensified.

Mr Charles Fernandes, the SVM convenor said that the allegations against approximately 150 peaceful protester s who prevented the company workers from continuing work at the SEZ site at Verna on Tuesday were unfounded. He further claimed that 50 per cent of the protestors were ladies, and asserted that no damage was done to company's property or any violence against the labourers and the company staff was committed by the protestors.

It also charged that it was a deliberate attempt by the Rahejas to register false cases against innocent public to force them to withdraw from such peaceful agitations. The SVM also questioned the immediate registration of offence against peaceful protesters and the failure to register an FIR lodged by villagers against the GIDC officials and SEZ promoters till date.

The SVM also questioned how the police registered an offence against the public in a notified SEZ when they do not have jurisdiction in notified SEZs as per the SEZ Act and demanded that the government immediately issue show cause notices to all the promoters of SEZs in Goa, register the FIR filed by People's Movement Against SEZ on October 22, 2007 and set up an inquiry into the scam in the process of approvals forwarded for SEZs and also called on every MLA to walk the talk against SEZs within the deliberations and resolutions in the assembly.

The SVM said that approximately 150 villagers out of which 50 per cent were ladies had gone to protest the resumption of the construction activity in the Raheja SEZ. It alleged that statements made by Raheja officials that the workers present were only minimal maintenance workers was false as could be seen from electronic footage taken and argued that about 50 workers were found working on construction.

Reiterating that absolutely no damage was done to property or violence committed towards labourers and staff present by the protesters as witnessed by two vehicles of Vema Outpost Poilce personnel present, it warned that the people were running out of patience and were being further provoked by such complaints.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2008082120

Activists storm Verna SEZ site, stop work

HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, AUG 19 – Activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) from Verna and Loutolim stormed into a SEZ construction site at Verna on Tuesday and stopped work there.
Goa Bachao Abhiyan Activist Pravin Sabnis, SEZ Virodhi Manch convenor Charles Fernandes, Peter Gama and Fr Eremito Rebello barged into the SEZ site, after they were informed about the ongoing work at the site. The project is being developed at Phase IV of Verna Industrial Estate, after getting respite from the High Court to resume work.

As the activists were trying to stop the work, labourers were seen running to take cover against the activists. Some activists even rushed to the makeshift office and flushed out personnel seated there. They warned them not to start any work at the site. Labourers who wanted to leave the site were stopped till the police could arrive at the site. The panic-stricken labourers claimed that they had started the work a week ago and had been brought by a contractor from Mumbai.

Addressing the activists, Pravin Sabnis of GBA said that on December 8, 2007 Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had announced that all ongoing work at the SEZs would be stopped.
“Subsequently the work at Keri and Verna SEZs were stopped and later in January, the chief minister had announced that all SEZs would be scrapped. But nothing has been done and the government is fooling the people,” he added. Commenting on the compensation to the SEZ promoters, Sabnis claimed that the SEZ promoters should instead compensate the people for destroying flora and fauna in the area.

Fr Rebello lambasted the lethargic attitude of the government towards SEZ promoters.
“The government is quick to take action when the common man illegally undertakes minor constructions. Why is it reluctant to stop this huge illegal construction,” asked Fr Rebello.
It may be recalled that SVM activities had earlier obstructed 200 workers on December 10, 2007, bringing the work to a halt.

Meanwhile, Ashok Keni, former Navy commander and security chief at the site filed a police complaint, claiming that around 70 people had trespassed into his office and had assaulted him and his colleagues, besides damaging property. Maina-Courtorim PI Dharmesh Angle said that a case against 70 unknown persons have been registered under Sections 143 (forming unlawful assembly), 323 (assault), 427 (damaging property), 447 (trespass) and 506 (2) r/w 149 IPC.
http://www.oheraldo .in/pagedetails. asp?nid=8631&cid=10

destruction by Raheja continues

Dated: 19/08//200/8
Press Release
The SEZ Virodhi Manch expresses disgust at the double standards of the government of making empty statements/promises with regard to the scrapping of SEZs from Goa. At the ground level work and full scale destruction activity is taking place by the Raheja SEZ at Verna. When the Government withdrew its Stop Work Notices issued to SEZ Promoters from the High Court on procedural lapses, it promised the citizens of Goa that fresh Show Cause Notices in accordance with the law would be issued to the Promoters of SEZs in Goa. Till date, there has not been a single Show Cause Notice issued to the promoters, on the contrary, the Government has allowed the promoters to re-start work by its inactions.
Despite several representations to de-notify the Special Economic Policy from the State, the Government of Goa has not done so, which exposes their malicious intentions.
It may be recollected that when the villagers entered the Meditab SEZ at Keri and the Raheja SEZ at Verna on 7 and 10 December 2007, the print and electronic media was witness to statements made by their liaison-officers talking of "verbal permissions given by the GIDC”.
Today, 19th August, 2008 the people from various villages after learning that the works at the Raheja SEZ at Verna had been restarted entered the site in large numbers and forced the workers to stop work and leave the site. It is deploring that time and again the people are compelled to forget their daily chores to fight for their rights while the Government repeatedly fools the people. Repeatedly it is the people who have to enter the SEZ premises and force the SEZ promoters to stop work. Till date the people have not resorted to any violence but they also should not be taken for granted. The people have made their intentions clear that they will not allow the works to go on at any costs and warn the Govt. that it will be solely responsible for the outburst of any violence in future. The SVM is surprised that now many MLA’s belonging to the ruling and opposition parties who used to sing anti-SEZ tunes have conveniently forgotten the same. The SVM now demands from all those anti SEZ MLA.’s to bring up the issue before the Assembly session in progress and demand passing of a bill scrapping the SEZ policy existing in the State. This will prove their sincerity over the issue.
The SVM calls for immediate actions by the Government that immediate Show Cause Notices be issued procedurally to all the promoters of SEZs in Goa, register the FIR filed by villagers People’s Movement Against SEZ on 22nd October 2007 instead of criminal dilly-dallying by the Goa Police and set up CBI inquiry into the scam in the process of approvals forwarded for SEZs.
The SVM warns the Government and the SEZ promoters to desist from playing with the sentiments of Goans. The peaceful protests of the SVM should not be construed as a sign of weakness. The government should not provoke the peaceful people of Goa.
Charles Fernandes
Convenor
SEZ Virodhi Manch

SEZs must Quit Goa

The SEZ Virodhi Manch
invites you to join the solidarity
at Azad Maidan, Panaji
on 9 August 2008 (Quit India Day)
from 10am-11.30 am

Kindly assemble before 9.30 am
with your banners & placards
Let's say in one voice
QUIT GOA
to the fraud of SEZs
QUIT GOA
to Irresponsible anti-people "Development"
QUIT GOA
to attacks on our land, lives and livelihoods

GIDC needs time to reply

Hearing adjourned as GIDC seeks time to file reply
HERALD REPORTERPANJIM, JULY 18 –
Hearing on the writ pleas filed by the villagers of Sancoale, Verna and Keri-Ponda was today adjourned till September 8 as the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) sought time to file its reply.
The villagers through three different writ petitions, filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa last week, have challenged the land allotment to developers of the Special Economic Zone (SEZs) in the State. The allotment of land has been challenged on grounds that GIDC transferred the land in gross violation of law and transactions were executed in “most high-handed manner”.
Allotment was made without putting up an advertisement or calling for tenders or auctioning the land to the highest bidder, the petitioners alleged. Hearing on petitions of Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, and K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, was also adjourned for September 8. Both SEZ developers are before the Court over show cause notices issued by GIDC threatening to revoke lease deeds and take back the land by refunding the premium, interest and leased rent paid.
The High Court had granted temporary relief in the form of status quo on the show cause notices issued to K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd. K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, was the first to move Court with respect to show cause notice issued by GIDC.

Knowledge SEZs ?

• 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.
• 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.
  
  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.
  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.
  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.
  

NDTV exposes Goa SEZ fraud

Goa SEZ papers indicate rule violations
Ketki Angre
Sunday, July 13, 2008 (Goa)

The Goa government recently scrapped seven SEZs that were coming up in the state, reportedly because of violations in the way they were allotted in the first place.

The government says that this was in response to large scale public protests, fearing the SEZ's would burden the infrastructure without generating jobs for locals.

But Documents obtained by activists using the Right to Information found that there were violations in how these SEZ's were allotted.

The SEZs were cleared by the previous Goa Government under CM Pratapsinh Rane, which sanctioned the SEZs in two separate meetings.In one batch , nearly 400 acres of land were given to 4 SEZs in Verna in South Goa. The Ashok Piramal Group's Planetview Mercantile Private Ltd, Piramal's Inox Mercantile Private Ltd, K Raheja Corporation Limited, one of Mumbai's biggest construction firms and K Raheja's Paradigm Logistics And Solutions Private Ltd.

But documents obtained under RTI from the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and the directorate of industries find that all four SEZ applications were technically incomplete.

The company seal on documents were missing and the crucial bank finance guarantee was missing. The Goa government meeting in which the four SEZs were sanctioned didn't even have the mandatory quorum, which makes all its decisions null and void.

A glaring flaw in the document was that Planetview Mercantile Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Ashok Piramal Group, did not even exist when it was sanctioned nearly 25 acres of land. The company was formed a week after its request for land was cleared.Clearances which experts agree are suspect. Suhail Nathani, partner, Economic Laws Practice said, ''A meeting held without quorum is not valid. And an application made by a non existant company/ entity is just what it suggests .. That it is not a valid application because the body corporate, which is the applicant did not exist on that particular day.''

But the Goa Industrial Development Corporation insists the clearances were in order. Nitin Kunkolienkar, director, Goa Industrial Development Corporation said, ''There's absolute quorum, it was perfectly right, no one has understood the provision of the Act. The quorum requirement is four people, so the entire quorum was present at the meeting and the meeting was totally legal. It is beyond doubt. Whether the company existed or not is not our lookout. We follow the meeting agenda.''

This in spite of the Act stating that the Director of Industries is needed to reach quorum when only four members are present.

When contacted, the Piramal group in an emailed statement said: ''When the application was made, the company was under formation. It is clearly mentioned accordingly in the application form. As a result, the application form did not have its company seal. As regards the bank finance guarantee, there was no requirement in the application form. Moreover, the land allotment was done based on the skills and credentials of Peninsula and not depending upon the SPV in isolation.''

Interestingly, nowhere in the application form is it mentioned that Planetview Mercantile is a Piramal subsidiary or was under formation and the GIDC website clearly says that a letter from the bank/financial institution agreeing to finance the project is needed to be eligible.

In spite of repeated attempts the K Raheja Corporation did not respond to these allegations.

Family connections

In allocation of another 300 acres of land in Ponda in central Goa, there is evidence of further violations. Cipla's subsidiary, Meditab Specialities Private Limited, which was given an SEZ here didn't even make a formal application for an SEZ.

Only on the basis of a request letter it was sanctioned nearly 300 acres for a pharmaceutical SEZ on the direction of the then Industries Minister. The law does say that the corporation is bound to follow directives from the government but this is only in the area of policy directives.

The corporation claims this means all government directives need to be followed. Nitin Kunkolienkar, director, Goa Industrial Development Corporation said, ''You see particular Cipla case, it was referred by the govt. and including the CM's office, industries' minister's office and then the CS has referred it. The Goa-IDC was asked to process that.''

Experts says whatever the directives from the state, the corporation should also have followed the official procedures. This includes insisting on a formal application. ''There is a procedure that needs to be followed and there is no provision in the law to compromise the process. While the decision maybe dictated, that's something the act does provide, but certainly there is no provision for doing away with the process, so to my mind they would have to follow process,'' Nathani said.

But when contacted, Pharma giant CIPLA has said procedures were followed and the allegations are baseless.

Of the seven SEZs that the Goa government subsequently scrapped, three were promoted by the Piramal Group the signatory on its documents is Amish Yoddha.

But interestingly Yoddha is the son-in-law of AV Palekar the Managing Director of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. The Goa government body that allocated the lands, a deal which some say raises serious questions of conflict of interest.

But the Piramal Group in its statement says: ''There is no conflict of interest. Amish Yoddha was authorised to represent the company vide a valid Board Resolution. The land allotment took place much before his wedding with daughter of Mr A V Palekar and there is no connection between the two events. The Deed of lease was executed on August 2, 2006 whereas the wedding took place on January 29, 2008.''

Former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane in whose tenure the SEZs were santioned refused to comment, saying the matter of SEZ clearances was now in court

Goa's chief minister Digambar Kamat who subsequently scrapped the SEZs said his government stand was clear - it did not want SEZs anymore.

But the question on how they were allotted will still stand.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080056846&ch=7

Villagers challenge SEZ land allotment

HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 9 — Villagers of Sancoale, Verna, and Keri-Ponda through three separate writ petitions filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa, have challenged the allotment of land to SEZ developers in the State.
The villagers have challenged the allotment of land on grounds that Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has transferred the land in gross violation of law and in most high-handed manner. Allotment was made even without putting up an advertisement or calling for tenders or auctioning the land to the highest bidder, the petitioners alleged.
Furthermore, the GIDC is accused of making the allotments of land in total violation of the provisions of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 as well as State’s own SEZ policy.
The petitioners have challenged the land allotment made to M/s Peninsular Pharma Research Center Pvt Ltd, which has acquired land to set up SEZ in Sancoale, M/s Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd in Keri Ponda and M/s K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, M/s Paradigm Logistic and Distribution Pvt Ltd, M/s Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd, M/s Planet View Mercantile Pvt Ltd, Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd, who want to have SEZs in Verna Industrial Estate.
They have prayed for an order quashing the land allotment in the industrial estate and revert it to the original owners from whom the land was acquired.
Petitioners also want that the entire process of allotment enquired into by an independent body like the CBI or have a commission of inquiry headed either by a High Court or a Supreme Court Judge to look into the irregularities in the entire allotment procedure including the possibility of irregular graft.
The petitions have been posted for hearing on July 18.

Goa villagers petition against SEZ land allotment
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/03101220.htm
PANAJI: Goa villagers have approached the Goa bench of Bombay High Courtappealing against the Special Economic Zones(SEZs) land allotment byState government-run Goa Industrial Development Corporation(GIDC). The villagers, in their petition before the court, have termed the landallotment as "fraudulent". The villagers from Keri, Sancoale and Verna, have filed a petitionchallenging GIDC's decision to allot land to these SEZs in theirvillages, on 95-year-lease basis. The petition mostly concerns three notified SEZs -- Meditab SpecialitiesPvt Ltd, K Raheja and Peninsula Pharma Research Pvt Ltd. The petition has also questioned land allotment in seven SEZs includingthese three. The villagers have complained that the land was allottedwithout involving public in the land allotment process. "In some case, the land was allotted as quick as within seven days ofthe application," Colin Gonsalves, a lawyer representing the villagers,said. GIDC which faced severe criticism for allotment of the land, has alreadyissued showcause notice to all the seven SEZ promoters. GIDC officials said that they have decided to revoke the land allotmentacting on the directives of the government. "We have issued showcause notices and final step to revoke the land willbe decided after the meet by board of directors" a senior official said.Also, SEZ issue is a hotly debated issue in the state with DigamerKamat-led government taking anti-SEZ stand bowing to the pressures ofthe masses. - PTI

Centre sets conditions, will denotify SEZs

Under pressure from Goa to scrap SEZs,
Centre sets conditions: compensate developers, will denotify
JAYANT SINGH, Indian Express
NEW DELHI, JULY 6:
Yielding to Goa’s insistence on cancelling all special economic zones (SEZs), the Commerce and Industry ministry has finally said it could denotify the SEZs if the state seized the land allotted to developers and returned their money along with interest and compensated them for investment already made on the ground.
According to officials in the Department of Commerce, the Centre would then be able to denotify these SEZs since they would not have any land to execute the projects. Six developers have so far paid two of the three instalments amounting to Rs 280 crore to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for about 600 acres allotted to them. They have made investments of about Rs 500 crore over and above this.
Three of these six SEZs — K Raheja Corporation, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and Meditab Specialities — are notified under the SEZ Act 2005 and the Goa government has been repeatedly asking the Centre to denotify them due to political opposition to SEZs in the state.
At a meeting of the Board of Approval for SEZs on June 4, the Centre had made it clear that it was not possible to denotify the three SEZs since there was no provision to do so under the SEZ Act. But now, the Centre has given up. Officials in the Commerce department, however, said Goa refused to compensate the developers and was yet to initiate talks with them.
There have been widespread protests in Goa against the setting up of SEZs over the past year by villagers and activists which led the state government to cancel all approved SEZs and recommend denotification of the rest by the Central government. This has left SEZ promoters in Goa hanging in mid-air.
The GIDC had started accepting applications for setting up SEZs in 2006 and had eventually leased this land — a total of 600 acres of industrial estate — to six companies for SEZs. This land was acquired by GIDC way back in 2001. Apart from the three notified SEZs, the others, which had cleared the approval stage, are Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistics Distribution Pvt Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd.

SVM Resolutions of 6 July

Resolutions adopted at SVM public meeting held on 6th July, 08 at Colva Parish Hall:
1) Disband GIDC and initiate time bound CBI inquiry into the SEZ scam.
2) Suspend all officials involved in approving of the plan subsequent to government’s order to scrap all notified SEZs and stop work order being issued to notified SEZs.
3) Re-amend the Industrial Act by de-notifying the notified areas and bringing back the jurisdiction of industrial areas under the authority of the Village Panchayats.
4) Government to direct Water Resources Dept. to cap all bore wells in all industrial areas in Goa and initiate action against the violators.
5) SEZ promoters should not be compensated by the Government. On the contrary the promoters should be penalised for permanently and severely damaging the ecology of the villages and such compensation should be paid to the respective affected villages.
6) Suspend top police officials who are still refusing to register the criminal complaint filed by villagers on 22nd October 07
7) Scrap SEZ policy and issue of show cause notice to the delinquent employee in view of the withdrawal of the case by the State Govt.

Colva meet renews demand for scrapping SEZ policy

BY HERALD REPORTER
Serves deadline for disbanding GIDC

MARGAO, JULY 6 – Sending a message loud and clear to the government that the people will not keep quiet any longer, the SEZ Virodhi Manch has renewed its demand for the scrapping of the SEZ policy and served a deadline of July 31 to disband Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and initiation of time-bound inquiry through the Central Bureau of Investigations. At an impressive meeting held at the Colva Church hall on Sunday morning, the Manch demanded suspension of all officials involved in approving of the plan subsequent to government’s order to scrap all notified SEZs.

A resolution was also adopted demanding re-amendment of the Industrial policy by de-notifying the notified areas and bringing back the jurisdiction of industrial areas under the authority of the village panchayats. The meeting asked the government to direct Water Resources Department to cap all bore wells in all industrial areas in Goa.

On the question of compensation of the SEZ promoters by the government, the meeting unanimously resolved that the promoters be penalized for permanently damaging the ecology of the villages, demanding payment of compensation to the respective affected villages. A resolution was adopted to suspend top police officials, who are still refusing to register the criminal complaint filed by the villagers on October 22, 2007

Various speakers exposed the sins of omission and commission by the government authorities in the fraudulent allotment of land to the SEZ promoters and the sloppy handling of the matter by the government.

In his address, Convenor for the Council for Social Justice and Peace, Fr Maverick Fernandes came down heavily on the government for its ambivalent stand on the Special Economic Zones and for playing with the sentiments of the Goans. He said though the government had on New Year’s eve taken a clear-cut that no SEZs would be allowed in Goa, he lamented that the government is coming up with many projects in the name of development. Fr Fernandes was also critical of the opposition for not take up the fight against SEZs seriously.

In his address, social activist, Dr Francisco Colaco charged the Goa government taking the people for granted and is not taking the issue seriously. He warned that the people will not keep quite if the government does not come out clean and scrap the SEZs.

Goa Bachao Abhiyan activist Pravin Sabnis said the SEZs will spell doom for Goa and questioned the government for not scrapping the SEZ policy. Calling upon the people to be vigilant, he said the government is trying to manipulate projects in the name of development without taking the interests of locals into account.

The meeting was attended by villagers from Kerim, Betul, Quitol, Verna, Loutolim, Nagoa, Sancoale, Cortalim, who expressed their full support to the ongoing movement against SEZs.)

Don’t take Goans for a ride, promoters warned

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JUNE 26 — SEZ Virodhi Manch on Thursday warned SEZ promoters not to take Goans for a ride by going to court to get what the people have long back rejected. Addressing a press conference today evening, Aravind Bhatikar of Nitoll Jin Trust, in a terse message asserted, “The State Government should follow proper procedures and not allow any leeway to the SEZ promoters by eating humble pie in the court.”

Not happy with the latest move to issue stop work order to some of the SEZ promoters, SVM Convenor Charles Fernandes said, “This action shows the Government is not functioning in the interests of the people. Its true intentions not to respect the genuine struggle of the people have been exposed.”

Fernandes chided further, “On one hand the Government has announced scrapping of the zones, issued stop work orders to the notified SEZs, approached the Board of Approval at Delhi for the purpose of de-notifying the notified SEZs and on the other hand the GIDC is continuing to approve construction plans of notified SEZS.” The SVM convenor showed one such copy of an approval given by GIDC dated April 15, 2008 to the press persons. “It is beyond the jurisdiction of the GIDC to grant such approvals and secondly no environment impact assessment is done before the plans are approved,” he maintained.

SVM has now decided to hold a meeting on Sunday, June 29, at the Grace Church Hall in Margao at 10 am to discuss the future course of action. “We will reveal our plan of action on this day. Today I only want to say that SEZ promoters and Government people of Goa will not everything lying down,” Bhatikar avowed. Council for Social Justice and Peace General Secretary Fr Maverick Fernandes and Peter Gama of Verna were also present at the briefing.

national meet on CZM

At a national meeting on CZM, Pravin Sabnis speaking about the learnings from the SVM agitation against SEZs in Goa.

Rahe? Ja!

The acts of omission and commission by
the CM, Govt, GIDC & Advocate General
in facilitating the fraud of SEZs
will not go unchecked.
They will have to face the fury
of the peoples' wrath.

The SEZ Virodhi Manch met today evening

to decide future course of action.

SVM press conference at Caritas, Panaji
6pm, on 26 June 2008, Thursday.

SVM calls on all Goans
to join the solidarity against SEZs
at a PUBLIC MEETING at Margao
10.30 am, on 29 June 2008, Sunday

Amka naka SEZ, amka zai PEZ

Govt decides to withdraw SEZ stop work order
HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JUNE 25 – The State Government had to eat a humble pie and withdraw ‘stop work orders’ issued against the two major Special Economic Zones (SEZ) stakeholders on Wednesday when it failed to justify its stand in terms of law. Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd and Peninsula Pharma Research Center Pvt Ltd had challenged the stop work order issued by the State Government on January 10, 2008. It was issued pending decision of Government of India on State’s request for de-notification of three notified SEZs.

When the matter came up for hearing today morning, the Counsel for the State Government Adv Ranjeet Kumar could not satisfy the Court why the stop work order was issued without petitioners being granted any hearing.Adv Kumar told the Court that the order was issued in view of the policy decision of the State Government to do away with SEZs in public interest. However, a Division Bench headed by Justice S A Bobde pointed out that, “the court is not concerned with policy decision taken in view of public of interest” and indicated that stop work orders issued against petitioners holds no water (Continued on page 10)when seen in light of decision of the Central government, wherein it refused to grant the request of the State Government. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in its letter dated May 12, 2008 intimated the State Government that it would not be possible to withdraw the notifications.

The letter said, “The developers have already made investment and the issue of compensation of investment made to the developers as well as refund of fiscal benefits would also arise. It has therefore, been decided that it would not be possible for Central government to withdraw the notifications declaring them as SEZs.”The Counsel for Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, Adv Ravi Kadam contended that the State Government had no powers to give stop work order, which was issued without giving the petitioner any chance to present its case. In view of this, the State Government had no option but to withdraw the stop work order when the Court categorically pointed out that the State Government vis-à-vis Central government’s decision not to denotify the three SEZs.

The State Counsel Adv Kumar made a statement to the effect before the Division Bench and the two petitions were disposed off. This means the State Government will have to now issue show cause notices to the petitioners and hear them before it issues any stop work orders.

‘No compensation for SEZ promoters’

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 20 – The SEZ Virodhi Manch has reiterated that no compensation whatsoever should be paid by the government to the SEZ promoters, saying the Board of approvals have violated SEZ rules in hastily approving the notifying the SEZ.
Welcoming the government decision of revoking the land allotted for SEZ purpose by the GIDC and claiming it to be a victory of the people, the Manch prayed that there is no hidden agenda in the decision and that the government stays with the people in the same manner till the land is finally revoked officially and the three notified SEZs are denotified.
Referring to an article carried in a section of the press saying that scrapping of SEZs would cost the government Rs 500 crores, the Manch said it was illegal for the Board of Approvals to grant approval and notify the three SEZs when the said land was not owned by the SEZ promoters, but only leased.“The SEZ rules mandates that SEZ promoters should be the owners of the land. Further, the SEZ rules states that land should be purchased from private owners for setting up of SEZ and not from land acquired by the government. Moreover, the land was acquired for the industrial estate”, stated Manch Convenor, Charles Fernandes, while addressing a press conference in the city here on Friday.
Convenor of Council for Social Justice and Peace, Fr Maverick Fernandes, Pravin Sabnis, Franky Monteiro, Peter Gama were present at the briefing.
Fernandes said the Manch strongly demands the capping of all the bore wells by the administration and initiation of strong action against the erring units. “The illegal drawing of groundwater has severely depleted the water table in all the surrounding areas”, he said, while demanding that all machines used for sinking bore wells must be banned from entering the industrial estate. “The village Panchayats must be permitted to carry surprise inspections in any unit for checking on illegal bore wells”, he added.

SVM demands CBI probe into SEZs
NT NETWORK -MARGAO
The SEZ Virodhi Manch demanded revocation of the June 2006 SEZ policy and a CBI inquiry against the "fraud" of SEZs in Goa. They also demanded that an FIR be lodged against the frauds of the GIDC.
They further demanded that the Goa Industries Act 1985 be amended and the deletion of the provisions that take away the powers of the panchayats and the returning of the lands to the original owners.
Meanwhile, Mr Pravin Sabnis of the Goa Bachao Andolan brought to light the wrong that has been done to the villagers by the industries in Verna and the GIDC. Springs that used to be evergreen all year round have dried up and are seen down to a trickle even in the monsoons due to the rampant setting up of borewells.
The SVM has demanded the capping of all the bore wells by the administration and also strict action against the violating units. The SVM also demanded that heavy machinery used to sink borewells be banned from entering the industrial estate.

Smile? Sure... Celebrate? Not Yet!!!

The growing public pressure has forced the Government to instruct the GIDC to revoke land allotment to seven SEZs, including three notified ones. It is necesarry to read the fine print before jumping the gun and celebrating. Nevertheless, we surely deserve to smile.

The credit for wahatever steps are being taken to uproot the scam of SEZs goes to first Franky Monteiro, Allan Faleiro and others who dug up the real fraud of approval of SEZ applications and land allotments. The brave proactive villagers of Keri, Verna, Loutolim, Sancoale, Betul and elsewhere showed exceptional determination and resolve to save their villages. The awakened Goans gave prompt solidarity to force the hand of the Government. The print as well as electronic media gave great support at all times.

BUT while we can smile, we need to hold on before we celebrate.

The Government must bring to book those guilty of the SEZ scams. No leniency must be permitted lest the SEZ developers find scope for intervening through the courts. Instead of entertartaining any compensation claims of the developers, the Govt must force the scamsters (both SEZ developers and those in the adminstration who facilitated the fraud) to compensate the affected villagers. And most importantly, since it is proved by the actions of the GIDC that it does not require land for industrial purposes, it must return the land back to the village. Lastly, the Industrial areas have to be brought back under the control of the panchayats which are now under scrutiny by the main stakeholders - the citizens of that village.

When all that happens, we can truly say
cheers
- Pravin

Check out http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080053086&ch=6/15/2008%209:03:00%20AM

Decision to revoke land to SEZs - what next?

Goa govt decides to revoke land allotments to seven SEZs
Friday, 13 June , 2008, 23:15
Panaji: Creating further difficulty for the Special Economic Zone promoters, Goa government-run Industrial Development Corporation today decided to revoke land allotment to seven SEZs, including three notified ones.
The IDC board of directors, which met today, stamped on the decision to revoke the lands allotments, which will further trouble the SEZ promoters who are facing difficult times in the state. Digamber Kamat-led government has already declared its intention not to have any SEZ in the state and has moved to the Union Commerce Ministry to denotify the three SEZs while scrapping the rest.
Of the total 15 SEZs, seven – including three notified – were allotted land by the State-run IDC at its Verna, Sancoale industrial estates and Bhootkhamb plateau in north Goa's Keri village. IDC's move has come as a final nail in the coffins of SEZ projects here which are already fighting legal battle against State government's stop work orders.
"We took the resolution adhering to the State government's policy of no SEZs. It was a government directive to take such decision," IDC chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar told PTI afterthe meeting. He said that earlier Pratapsingh Rane led government was in favour ofSEZs and hence IDC had allotted land to these industrial enclaves inthe state.The IDC has issued notices to all the seven SEZ promoters.
-------------------------------------------------
The above is good news. Now the Government should prosecute the scamsters and those guilty of the SEZ scams should be brought to book. Otherwise the SEZ developers will fight their way back on the pretext of arbitrariness or something like that. If any compensations are found to be owing to anyone, they should come from the pockets of the scamsters including successive politicians right and centre.
Also, will the Government make a categoric announcement that its policy of no SEZs means that its earlier SEZ policy stands scrapped. Also, as a logical consequence, will the IT Policies and theBio-technology policies which enable the Government to consider ITParks and bio-tech parks as "deemed SEZs" be revamped?
If this is not done, then it's mere hogwash
- Albertina Almeida

More of the SEZ mess in Goa

Unauthorised meet okayed land
13 Jun 2008, 0243 hrs IST, Preetu Nair,TNN

Not only did the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) act in haste to allot plots to the K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd for an SEZ, but they increased the floor area ratio (FAR) on par with the IT habitat at Dona Paula and even sacrificed plans of setting up a government SEZ to allot 300 acres to Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd. In addition, though the still 'under formation' Peninsula Research & Development Centre, Sancoale, had applied for Export Processing Zone status, SEZ status was conferred. The reason: the 'government feels it could be an SEZ'.
The list of irregularities goes on. Documents acquired by anti-SEZ activists under RTI reveal that allotment of land to Raheja's was done at the GIDC board meeting on April 19, 2006, attended by only four members— GIDC chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar, MLA Aleixo Sequeira, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nitin Kunkolienkar and Managing director A V Palekar. Other board members, including the director of industries were absent.
A possible explanation for their absence is that they received the notice of the meeting at the time when the meeting was already in progress. Three board members — secretary industries, director industries and chief electrical engineer—acknowledged receipt of the notice with signatures on April 19, 2006 at around 5 pm, an hour after the scheduled start of the meeting. Going by the industries and labour department regulations this meeting should not have taken place as there was no quorum. The regulations state: 'four members present will form a quorum provided that at least one of the members nominated under section 4 (1) (d) (in this case industries director) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Industrial Development Act, 1965, other than the chairman is present'.

messages of Solidarity

As SEZ Virodhi Manch intensifies its resistance against the fradulent SEZs,
messasges of solidarity are coming from all over India.

Dear Friends
This is to tell you that I am in solidarity with you in your struggle against the SEZs. Some years ago I did a study of all displacement by development projects in Goa, 1965-1995 and later tried to update it. Unfortunately I am still searching for a commercial publisher to publish it. I could see that in 30 years 3.5 percent of all landmass in Goa was acquired for these projects and that in one decade 7.2 percent more would be taken over. These projects show that the trend was clear.
With best wishes
Walter Fernandes

SEZ mess: How it all started

12 Jun 2008, 0232 hrs IST, Preetu Nair, TOI

PANAJI: The Special Economic Zone Act was enacted by the Centre in June 2005, but the Goa government was exploring possibilities right from December 2004. The first time that the government considered SEZs was on December 29, 2004, when under the chairmanship of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar a decision was taken at a Goa Industrial Development Corparation (GIDC) meeting to earmark land for a food park, a biotech park and an SEZ. At a subsequent meeting on April 15, 2005 chaired by industries secretary Jayashree Raghuraman (Goa was then under Central rule), it was decided to "explore the possibility of setting up food park and SEZ at Keri and bio-tech park at Verna".

It was two months later—June 23—that the Centre enacted the SEZ Act 2005 and another 12 months—June 5, 2006—before the Goa government came up with an SEZ policy. In the meantime, in March and April 2006 GIDC had already accepted applications from companies for SEZs. Information available with TOI reveals that allegations of procedural impropriety and blatant irregularities against the SEZs could well be true. These facts and many more irregularities have come to light following documents made available by the government under the Right To Information Act. The documents reveal that land was allotted to the companies even before the Goa SEZ policy was formulated. Of the three notified SEZs, two—K Raheja Corp Private Limited and Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd—had the blessings of then chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and industries minister Luizinho Faleiro.

"The said proposal has been forwarded to us by the industries minister with the approval of the chief minister with the direction to consider their proposal," said the agenda note for GIDC's March 28, 2006 board meeting regarding Meditab's proposal. Similarly, the agenda note for the April 19,2006 GIDC board meeting said, "The chief minister as well as the industries minister are in support of the above allotments (land for Raheja and others)." The third SEZ, Peninsula Research & Development Centre, was "under formation" when GIDC reviewed their application and decided to allot land on March 28, 2006. Interestingly, in the April of that year, before the Goa SEZ policy came into existence, GIDC had already accepted applications from the three SEZs.

The irregularities continue. Two of the applications, those of Raheja and Peninsula, don't have the company seal, nor an inward stamp of GIDC and just one eye witness, instead of two. This raises doubt over the date the applications were received by GIDC and whether the GIDC issued the mandatory seven day notice to call a board meeting. The industries and labour department regulations clearly state that ‘the secretary shall give seven clear days notice of the ensuing meeting to each member of the corporation'.

Though GIDC in its agenda note for a meeting on February 7, 2006 proposed to revise the premium rate of plots in the industrial estates, it went easy on the three SEZs. This despite the fact that GIDC had decided that all new applications for plots and transfer of plots will be based on revised rates. While the price of plots for the industrial units at Verna phase I, II and III was hiked to Rs 750, the SEZs in phase IV were charged only Rs 600. Further, while the rate of land at Sancoale industrial estate was hiked from Rs 125 to Rs 400, Peninsula was charged just Rs 250, as the ‘area proposed for allotment is sloppy and without proper access'. Meditab got their land at the cheapest possible price of just Rs 80 per sq m.

The documents also reveal that GIDC relaxed the land rates, reduced the 2% annual lease rent that it had unanimously decided to charge in industrial estates effective from April 1, 2006, to 0.5% for the three SEZs. The lease signed is for 30 years, with a provision to extend it to 95 years. Further, though in the lease agreement with the three SEZs transfer of land was prohibited without GIDC consent, minutes of the GIDC meeting of April 19, 2006, reveal that the GIDC will not charge transfer fees, sub-lease or assignment charges from them. This would allow the SEZ developers to sub-lease or transfer the land to anyone at a price, without in turn paying the GIDC.

Goa villagers raise objections for 'god's sake' against SEZ

Tuesday June 10 2008 00:00 IST PTI

KERI: While special economic zones meet with opposition for various reasons across the country, Cipla's pharma SEZ in North Goa's Keri village is garnering objection for “god's sake”. “For the first time since time immemorial, we could not perform our annual religious worship ritual at this place due to the SEZ,” Ramakrishna Jhalmi, a local youth, who is spearheading anti-SEZ agitation told PTI.

Bhootkhamb plateau, a 12 lakh sq metres area, atop Keri village, is the place where people from twelve different sects perform their annual ritual of worshipping their ancestors during the month of February every year, he said.

Cipla has planned a 304 acres pharma SEZ, Meditab specialities Pvt Ltd's, at this plateau, which has already been approved and notified by the central government.It is amongst the three SEZs, which are hanging fire, after state government's stop work order.

“The ritual has been going unabated for ages. For the first time, we could not enter the place as it has been given for the industrial enclave,” 60-year-old Vinayak Jhalmi said.“A huge compound wall has been erected and security guards forbid people from entering in,” Jhalmi said. The 12 sects -- Jhalmi, Parpati, Gurav, Kolshekar, Gobrakhanekar, Mhalo, Mhar, Gawada, Satarkar, Devli, Chari and Dhanagar -- have a unique tradition of getting together at this place on the plateau and offer ‘khichadi’ (hotpotch) near the banayan tree located here during Paush month of Hindu calender.

“These traditions are integral part of our culture,” Raja Naik, another villager said. The villagers in their letter to the Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had briefed him about the issue. “But nothing happened. Twice we sought to meet him personally to explain him about the problem,” Jhalmi said. The villagers, who had opposed tooth and nail Thapar Du Pon's nylon project at the same place in 1995 by launching a massive agitation, have once again raised their banner against Cipla's industrial enclave.“Even during nylon projects, we could perform our rituals. It's getting tough with the SEZ,” Ramakrishna Jhalmi said.

The villagers are opposing the SEZ as they fear that the project will affect their water resources as all the five villages surrounding this plateau depend on farming for their livelihood.

No playing ball, please.

No playing ball, please. We have enough grounds to say so

- SEZwatch convenor, Albertina Almeida punctures Govt stance on SEZs

The below news item indicates a classic case of playing ball. The CentralGovernment can denotify the SEZs using the General Clauses Act and the Goa Government has to repeal its SEZ, IT, Biotechnology policies, register cases in regard to the SEZ related scams as the facts are well within theirknowledge. Period.

As far as the lease cancellation is concerned, the particular parties can continue to have the land if they put it to industrial purposes which is what GIDC had in the first place acquired the land for. If the parties don't want to put it to industrial purpose or the villagers of those villages want the land not to be put for industrialpurposes, then the land should be handed over to the appropriate authorityfor restoring it to the uses that the land was once put. But this is anissue entirely separate from the denotification as the land was anyway leased to these developers for SEZs even before the SEZs were applied for by them

THE NEWS ITEM:

Sun Jun 8 04:44:54 PDT 2008 Goa govt isn't closing down SEZs, says commerce secy8 Jun, 2008, 0206 hrs IST,Shantanu Nandan Sharma, TNNNEW DELHI: The Goa government, which mounted pressure on the Centre tocancel all Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state, has not taken anyinitiative to close down those estates and compensate thedevelopers< http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/Goa_govt_isnt_closing_down_SEZs_says_commerce_secy/articleshow/3110248.cms# >inthe last six months, commerce ministry officials said.Three developers of formally approved SEZs, who acquired 101 hectares ofland from government-owned Goa industrial development corporation (GIDC),are at a loss whether the stategovernment< http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/Goa_govt_isnt_closing_down_SEZs_says_commerce_secy/articleshow/3110248.cms# >wouldtake back those land and suitably compensate them, sources toldSundayET.The ministry of commerce which cancelled four approved SEZs at the requestof the Goa government, has refused to cancel three notified SEZs as the SEZAct has no provisions to de-notify any SEZ. The ministry, however, did notprocess 12 otherapplications< http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/Goa_govt_isnt_closing_down_SEZs_says_commerce_secy/articleshow/3110248.cms# >whichalso sought to develop SEZs in the state.When contacted, commerce secretary G K Pillai said: "During the last sixmonths or so, the Goa government has not taken any step to close down theSEZs. We are told that they have even asked for this year's lease rent ofland from some developers. As the state government has not done anypaperwork, some developers have recently received environmental clearance too," Mr Pillai said.The Goa government requested the Centre to scrap all SEZs in the state afterthe state had witnessed massive protests in December last year. Theprotestors were arguing that the SEZs would give an outlet for outsiders tograb land and reap financial benefits.Whereas Panchbhoomiinfrastructure< http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/Goa_govt_isnt_closing_down_SEZs_says_commerce_secy/articleshow/3110248.cms# >,one of the four formally approved SEZs, purchased land from private owners,the other three — Paradigm logistics & distribution, Planetview mercantilecompany and Inox Mercantile company — were given land by the Goa industrialdevelopment corporation."Some of the developers acquired land from GIDC way back in 2001. These werelying vacant for years now, and it's a complete waste of resources. Thegovernment of Goa should close down the process and compensate themsuitably," the commerce secretary said

SVM speaks to CM

on 4 June 2008, 8.30 am the SVM delegation met the CM at his Margao Residence and submitted the memorandum given below. Later they met the SP (South) and gave him 8-days to register the FIR or face the peoples wrath

To
Shri Digambar Kamat
Hon. Chief Minister, Govt. of Goa.
Sub: Memorandum regarding demands of the SVM to clear the ambiguity on scrapping SEZs in Goa.
Sir,
1. Since the State Government has already decided to scrap all SEZs in Goa, the latest communication of the Central Government is totally unacceptable to the SEZ Virodhi Manch. The State Government must stand by its decision and ensure that the Central Government should facilitate all technicalities to uphold the collective will of the people of Goa.
2. The claims for compensation by the SEZ promoters is not in order due to the obvious fraud in the allotment of land, the application process and the development works carried out without any permission. For instance the Raheja SEZ had carried out huge developmental works before it was notified on 6 November 2007. In fact villagers had stopped work at the Raheja site on 3 November 2007 and all works here are blatantly illegal.
3. The correspondence between the Central and State Government issued on 12 May 2008 is available to the Rahejas but the State Government feigns ignorance of the same. Obviously the SVM has doubts about the sincerity of the administration.
4. The lackadaisical attitude of the bureaucrats must be brought to book. The entire chain of bureaucrats proceeding on leave after joining speaks about their lack of commitment.
5. The SVM insists that the State Government must strongly condemn the highly irresponsible statements of the Union Commerce Secretary, Mr. Pillai which reflect an attitude of ignoring the key issues of the SEZ related agitation of the Goan people.

The SVM warns the Government to not indulge in acts of omission and commission with regards to the case of Goa against SEZs. We reiterate the following demands of the SVM:
1. Revoke the June 2006 SEZ Policy
2. Constitute CBI inquiry against the obvious fraud of the SEZs in Goa.
3. Order Goa Police to register the FIR against the fraud by GIDC based on the complaint made on 22 October 2007
4. Cancel the allotments made to SEZ companies by GIDC when there was no SEZ policy in the state
5. Amend the Goa Industrial Act 1985 and delete provisions taking away powers of Panchayat in respect of industrial estates.
6. The land must be returned to the original owners as the GIDC is seen to have abused its powers in allotting land for SEZ's and it indicates that GIDC does not need the said land for the Industrial Estate.

The SVM warns the Government that the people of Goa are all ready to give a fitting reply to any moves to bring back any SEZ in any form to Goa. The people of Goa have made it very clear that the SEZs will not be allowed to set foot on their motherland.
The SVM has decided to restart its protest and resistance against the SEZs in Goa. We demand that the Government walk the talk regarding the scrapping of SEZs. We hope that the peaceful citizens are not provoked by the acts of omission and commission with regards to the case of Goa against SEZs.

Yours sincerely

Charles Fernandes
Convenor