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.