‘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.