On April 27, 2008, citizens of Keri-Ponda on Sunday passed a resolution requesting the central government to de-notify Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Bhoothkhamb-Keri and to request the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to hand over the land allotted to Meditab to the Keri panchayat.
The gramsabha also resolved to demand the amendment to the Goa Industrial Development Act and delete the provisions enabling the GIDC to notify land anywhere as an industrial estate without the consent of the local panchayat. They also passed a resolution to delete provisions taking away powers of panchayat to issue licenses for construction and to collect taxes in respect of lands and building included in industrial estates.
The residents decided that all future proposed projects in Keri village should be discussed in the Gram Sabha. People have understood the nature of SEZs. We will allow industries in the village only if people want them. In future, a special gram sabha will be held to discuss any new project coming up in the area, said Sarpanch Sitaram Gaude.
It may be recalled that on October 2, 2007, villagers had passed a resolution opposing SEZ at Bhootkhamb and a series of movements were launched against the SEZ. Keri Village Nagrik Sammittee headed by Dr Vedesh Jalmi was formed. Various awareness programs were organized, informing the villagers about the SEZs. The state government had however decided to denotify SEZ due to mounting protests all the state.
Following criticisms from the villagers, Panchayat Secretary Somnath Tari apologized for recording a resolution during the previous Gram Sabha without the consent of the sarpanch.Priol MLA Deepak Dhavlikar was also criticized for his indifferent attitude in the movement against SEZ at Keri.
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