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.