Peoples' Audit of SEZs held on Sunday

Panel visits Verna & Keri SEZ sites

On 19 December 2009, the panel of experts who have come down to Goa for the PEOPLES' AUDIT OF SEZs (on Sunday, 20 Dec 2009, Caritas Hall, Panaji, Goa) visited the SEZ sites of Raheja at Verna and later Meditabs at Keri. They included Shekhar Singh, Adv Prashant Bhushan, Adm Ramdas, Kalpana Sharma and K B Saxena. Also present were Preeti Sampat, Sumanya Velamur, Nikhil Dey, Prasad Bhagwe, Mike and Mukta Shrivastava.

They were joined by Charles Fernandes, Franky Monteiro, Carmen Miranda, Peter Gama and other villagers at Verna. At Keri they were received by Rohidas Satarkar, Ramkrishna Jhalmi, Swati Kerkar, Dilesh Hazare, Dr Videsh Jhalmi and other villagers. Pravin Sabnis, Fr Simon Fernandes, Solano D'Souza and filmmaker Stalin K Padma was also present for the field visit

Earlier they visited and expressed their solidarity with persons from mining affected villages who were sitting on a day long fast at Azad Maidan. They also visited the Verna site where toxic industrial waste is being irresponsibly burnt.

Peoples' Audit of SEZs

PEOPLES' AUDIT OF SEZs

Sunday, 20 Dec 2009, Caritas Hall, Panaji, Goa.

Panelists: Shekhar Singh, Adv. Prashant Bhushan, Admiral (retd) Ramdas, Devinder Sharma, Kalpana Sharma, KB Saxena

Observers: Medha Patkar and others

AGENDA:

9.30 am: Overview of the struggle against SEZs in Goa – Charles Fernandes

10am-12noon: Presentations by villagers from Keri, Verna Loutolim, Sancoale, Betul

12noon: The social impact of SEZs - Fr Maverick

12.30 pm: SEZs negate Panchayati Raj – Soter D’Souza

1.00 pm: Lunch

2.00 pm: RTI unearthed the SEZ scam - Franky Monteiro

2.30 pm: Irresponsible Industrialisation – Allan Faleiro

3.00 pm: Panelists Speak

4.00 pm Audit concludes with PRESS CONFERENCE

Criminal burning of Industrial Waste at Verna

On 10 December, SVM activists led the media to a private site on Verna plateau

where Industrial Waste is being burnt in a private property

sans any procedures for the last 8 months.

Children as young as 15 years are doing the toxic job.

Seeing the media coming, they began to douse the fire with water.

This environmental crime is happening in the backyard of Goa's Environment Minister.

check out the pics on

http://picasaweb.google.com/pravinsabnis/Verna10Dec09#

SEZ case hearing adjourned to Feb 9

TNN 2 December 2009, 05:25am IST
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday adjourned the hearing of petitions pertaining to the special economic zones (SEZ) to February 9, 2010.
A division bench comprising Justice V K Tahilramani and Justice N A Britto deferred the hearing of the petitions filed by six SEZ promoters—Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distribution Private Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd—challenging the show cause notices issued by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) over the withdrawal of land allotted to them (promoters) after the state government changed its SEZ policy. While adjourning the hearings, the bench directed the state government to file its reply to the amended petitions by January 9, 2010. Further, the SEZ promoters have been directed to file their rejoinder to the government's reply, if any, within two weeks thereafter. The court had on July 27 allowed the petitioners to amend their petitions in view of the withdrawal of the SEZ policy by the state government on June 15. The government had not filed any reply to these amended petitions. While adjourning the hearing of the petitions, the bench told the advocates appearing on behalf of the petitioners and the respondents that no further adjournments would be granted, and also that the bench was inclined to take up the petitions for final disposal on February 9. The SEZ promoters in their petitions pleaded that since they invested heavily in the projects, they suffered huge losses after stop-work orders were issued by the state government. Meanwhile, on February 9, the court will also hear the public interest litigations filed by the villagers of Keri, Sancoale and Verna, challenging GIDC's decision to allot land in their respective villages on lease agreements to the SEZ promoters. The villagers have complained that the land was allotted fraudulently.

only talk, no walk... by Goa CM

Centre will not enforce SEZs: CM
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 19
Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat today said that the Centre will not force the Special Economic Zones on Goa against the wishes of the citizens of the state.“During my visit to Delhi I met the Industries Minister Anand Sharma and the Industries Secretary and reminded them about the de-notification of three SEZs, which were earlier notified in Goa,” Kamat told reporters.
He said the Goa government has withdrawn the controversial SEZ policy and hence there is no question of any SEZs making entry through backdoor.
Asked why was the delay in de-notifying SEZs as the State had decided to scrap them almost two years ago, Kamat said, “The SEZs cannot be de-notified overnight and the government has to study the legal implication which I know they are doing.”
“The Centre will not force the SEZ against the wishes of Goans,” he said. He said the AICC president Sonia Gandhi too has assured the Goans that SEZs will not be forced on them.

SVM condemns Aleixo Sequeira for SEZ statement

Manch condemns Aleixo Sequeira for SEZ statement
TNN 11 November 2009, 05:11am IST
PANAJI: The SEZ Virodhi Manch has condemned the statements made by power minister, Aleixo Sequeira, that he is in favour of setting up a special economic zone in Goa.
"At a time when ruling and opposition MLAs, cutting across party lines, have denounced SEZs in the state, and moreover, when even the government, realising its folly, has scrapped SEZs and the SEZ policy for Goa, the vested interests of the MLA stand exposed, as he is one among the few legislators who are instrumental in the said fraudulent allotment of lands for SEZs in the state," convenor of the Manch, Charles Fernandes, alleged. "Today, people in the state know that SEZs are autonomous bodies comprising of not only industries, but also commercial spaces, multiplexes, residential complexes, etc, having their own labour laws, law and order, free from all taxes, including import and export duties, and above all, outside the jurisdiction of the local bodies and state government. Yet the MLA seems to be in favour of the SEZs, as he believes that the industries that were to come up, were IT industries, and hence non-polluting, which in turn would create employment not only for highly qualified, but also for youngsters who have only passed the SSC," Fernandes said. Fernandes questioned the MLA as to where the employment force of 2.85 lakh persons would come from. He said that 51 lakh litres of water per day and 135 KVA of power per day would be required by the SEZ companies at Verna alone. "People of the state demand to know how many local villagers and citizens of the state are employed in the industrial units at the Verna industrial estate? People form villages repeatedly complain to panchayats that garbage from industrial units is seen dumped at various places along the roads leading to the villages. Being the minister for environment, Sequeira is turning a Nelson's eye to the environment hazard. Surely, the MLA should do much more than merely forward representations received from the people to the respective departments," Fernandes said.

CM snubs Aleixo, rules out SEZs
TNN 10 November 2009, 05:25am IST
PANAJI: Chief minister Digambar Kamat on Monday said his government is clear on its special economic zones (SEZ) policy and that it would not welcome them in Goa. He was reacting to statements made by environment minister Aleixo Sequeira on Sunday favouring setting of SEZs in the state. Kamat dismissed Sequeira’s statement as “his individual opinion”. “The government policy is clear, and we have already communicated our stand to the Centre,” Kamat told TOI. Regarding Sequeira’s views on the subject, he added, “Some persons may have their individual views and whatever he (Sequeira) has said is just that.” Kamat categorically stated there is no question of a government rethink on the SEZ policy. “We cannot go on changing our stand,” the CM said.

HC adjourns SEZ plea to Aug 31

HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 27
The Division Bench of Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) petitions for final hearing till August 31 thus asking the petitioners to amend the petitions in view of withdrawal of SEZ policy by the State Government within four weeks.
The Bench comprising of Justice S B Deshmukh and Justice U D Salvi ordered the State Advocate General Subodh Kantak to amend the petition and file it before the Bench in next four weeks and thereafter two weeks for reply.
In last order on June 16, the petitioners were asked to amend the petition within two weeks.The amendment is warranted after Chief Minister Digambar Kamat-led government on June 15, 2009 withdrew the SEZ policy. The State government had scrapped 12 SEZs while three are awaiting de-notification with Central Commerce Ministry.
The six SEZ promoters – Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distribution Private Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Company Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd are before High Court. They moved High Court after Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) issued them show cause notice asking them to withdraw the land allotted to them as State government has taken a decision not to have SEZs in Goa.
The promoters’ contention is that they have invested heavily in the SEZ projects and suffered huge losses due to the stop work orders issued by the government.
The GIDC had acquired about 3.8 million square meters of land for setting up the SEZs.
CM Digambar Kamat during the ongoing Assembly session has submitted on the floor that decision to withdraw the SEZ policy is absolutely right, stating that such enclaves would have ‘put strain on State’s resources’.

Goa criticised for pushing SEZs in guise of ‘health estates’

Panaji, July 18 (IANS)
Health estates, a new real estate project being aggressively promoted by the Goa government, has raised the hackles of Goa’s numerous civil society groups who allege that the government is trying to slip in SEZs through the back door by disguising them.
The health estates, which were notified through a government gazette, are meant to promote health services and facilitate medical tourism in the state. They will function under the newly formed Goa Health Services Development Corporation.
The notification dated June 26 defines health services as “any services by way of finance, premises, hospitals, health centres and any other services for betterment of health of the community and society at large”.
With the Congress-led coalition government’s earlier attempts to parcel out large tracts of land to real estate developers in the guise of mega housing projects, IT parks and fraudulently made allotments to Special Economic Zone (SEZ) developers successfully scuttled by sustained civil dissent since 2006, not many are willing to buy the concept of health estates.
“These are SEZs by another name. Those who devised these health estates are only interested in development of real estate,” Sabina Martins, co-convenor of the Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA), told IANS. GBA is an umbrella organisation of nearly 30 NGOs that has spearheaded and channelled public campaigns over the last three years.
“The notification allows land to be acquired for public purpose and then in the name of private-public partnership allows alteration of its use,” Martins said.
Arvind Bhatikar, an former bureaucrat and civic activist, said the health estates were nothing but another land scam waiting to happen in Goa, which has seen real estate prices reaching dizzying heights in the recent past.
Father Maverick Fernandes, secretary of the Roman Catholic Church-backed Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), criticised the government for making yet another attempt to “grab” land. “Instead of doing all this, the government should use the land judiciously and for the betterment of the people,” he said.
Interestingly, the Trained Nurses Association of Goa, which has also opposed the health estates project, has said that government run hospitals were critically short of essential facilities.
“Our hospitals in Goa are in shambles. First, the government should at least improve the present infrastructure. Goa’s best state-run health facility, the Goa Medical College, is in a mess. The government has got to get its priorities right,” said Nilima Rane, secretary of the Trained Nurses Association.
Indian Medical Association president Amol Tilve said that the implications of the Goa Health Services Development Act, which empowers the creation of health estates, needs to be examined thoroughly.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has, however, denied any ulterior motive as far as the health estates were concerned. “There is nothing to hide. It is not going to be a five-star residential complex. It is going to be purely a place to provide health facilities or allied activities to benefit the people of Goa. I will do what my conscience permits and as advised by the health advisory council,” he said earlier this week.

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/31840.htm

The great Goan Land Scam - Himanshu Upadhyaya

The great Goan land scam

Goa's land allocation policy to SEZs has been indicted for massive irregularities by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The list of violations is more or less a case the fence eating the crop, finds out Himanshu Upadhyaya.

courtesy http://indiatogether.com/2009/jun/gov-goascam.htm

30 June 2009 -

In an audit report tabled in Goa assembly during the last week of March 2009, the supreme audit institution - Comptroller and Auditor General of India - has once again pronounced critical remarks on SEZs, this time around on massive irregularities in land allotments by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to SEZ promoters.

The main opposition party (BJP) as well as resistance movements against SEZs were quick to grasp the moment putting forward a demand for CBI probe and criminal inquiry. The CAG audit report had probed into land allotments to Dona Paula IT Park on the outskirts of Panaji (2,85,296 square metres), the Quintol Food Park (4,19,000 square metres) and seven SEZs (38,41,000 square metres) as part of the performance audit of government companies.

On closer examination what emerges is an even more worrisome problem. Land acquired in past for 'public purpose' remains unutilised and undeveloped for years, and despite this, repeat land acquisition quests were undertaken by the government. Worse, the current legal regime has no space for handing back such land to persons from whom it was acquired in the first place

A huge chunk of SEZ land - 24.05 lakh square metre allotted to five SEZs at Verna - was carved out of 65.81 lakh square metres of land acquired for small and medium scale industries under centrally assisted Industrial Growth Centre scheme violating Government of India guidelines.

The audit scrutiny revealed that GIDC has acquired 166.86 lakh square metres land for 22 industrial estates and 7 special projects from 1966 till March 2003. Furthermore, during the last five years alone, ending March 2008, it initiated land acquisition proceedings for another 164 lakh square metres, i.e. an amount as high as what it acquired in the previous 37 years. Logically, one would expect that if land acquisition proceedings over such a large area were initiated within such a short period, GIDC was acting with due diligence on the need and requirement of such a rapid growth in industrialisation.

However, over six years ago, CAG's performance audit report on GIDC for the year ending 31 March 2003 had remarked that, "Saleable land admeasuring 29.57 lakh square metre remained unutilised for period ranging upto 21 years since the said land was acquired". The report was tabled in the year 2004 and has not been discussed by Goa Assembly's Public Accounts Committee.

Even though GIDC was in possession of 36.57 lakh square metres of unutilised saleable land as on March 31, 1998, it further acquired 13.71 lakh square metre of land during 1998-2003, at a huge cost and without a proper market survey, found the CAG. Out of this 13.71 lakh square metres land, as much as 8.53 lakh square metre (96 per cent) remained unallotted as explained below.

The numbers show that on the one hand, GIDC was acquiring within five years, as much land as it acquired in 37 years, and on the other hand, it was not able allot 96 per cent of the saleable area of the land that it acquired during 1998-2003.

There is more.
Coming back to the more recent times, the audit scrutiny examined all allotment to SEZs and allotments of area more than 10,000 square metres individually in Verna, Kundaim, Pissurlem and Cuncolim. This amounted to 7.83 lakh square metres and the CAG noticed irregularities in 86 allotments measuring 46.24 lakh square metres, involving the loss of revenue of Rs.102.64 crore. In short, almost 91.32 percentage of all its land allotment during last five years smack of irregularities.

In the Quitol Food Park case, the CAG auditors were shocked to find out that in deviation of GIDC's established policy, it acquired and allotted 4.19 lakh square metre of land to Betul Hospitality Parks Private Limited in April 2007 in the name of 'auxiliary services to Food Park', even as it was aware that BHPL had applied for 'setting up residential resorts for upmarket tourists'.

In the Dona Paula IT Park case, the CAG auditors noticed that the state government transferred 2.85 lakh square metre of land in June 2000 to state run Goa Info Tech Corporation for setting up IT and ITES. GITC developed the land and allotted 18 plots admeasuring 2,03,757 square metres area between August 2006 and October 2007 at a premium of Rs.4600 per square metre to 14 parties. The CAG auditors scrutinised the data and observed that "incorrect assessment of market rate of land resulted in loss of Rs.9.84 crores by way of premium and thereby undue benefit to allottees of the land". Also calculating the ripple effect of the loss in term of lease rent, CAG auditors noted that the company would suffer a loss worth Rs.5.90 crores (2 per cent of Rs.9.84 crores for 30 years).

Audit of the applications and allotments in Dona Paula IT Park case revealed large scale irregularities, since out of 37 applications only 19 were from IT firms, while 18 were from Real Estate Developers. Allotments were eventually made to 5 IT firms and 9 Real Estate Developers, while rejecting 23 applications, indicating that prime land earmarked for IT and ITES was being palmed off to speculative real estate interests that too at rates arrived by incorrect assessment.

According to the CAG report, in one instance, a real estate developer - Venkatarao Infra Projects - was allotted plots without even a proper application or project report, and five developers were allotted plots by relaxing the prescribed eligibility criteria.

On the land allotments to 7 SEZs, CAG stated that GIDC allotted the land (during April-May 2006) even without publicising or following up a proper process such as invitation of expression of interest, etc., and even before the state had designed its SEZ policy. Even more shocking: a huge chunk of SEZ land - 24.05 lakh square metre allotted to five SEZs at Verna - was carved out of 65.81 lakh square metres of land acquired for small and medium scale industries under centrally assisted Industrial Growth Centre scheme violating Government of India guidelines.

CAG auditors further noticed that undue favour was extended to SEZ developers by dropping a clause that enabled revision of Annual Lease Rent (ALR) as and when premium rates are revised. Trying to argue that this was not by design, the GIDC management stated in its reply in August 2008, "revision of ALR annually was not applicable to SEZ as the entire infrastructure maintenance cost within SEZ would be borne by SEZ developers". CAG auditors stated that the reply was not appropriate as GIDC had included its rights to revise the ALR in lease deed with BHPL for land at Quitol Food Park.

The list goes on and on. A comprehensive narration of CAG's findings about GIDC will take several pages more.

In sum, the CAG reports show that Goa's fever for land acquisition appears completely misplaced. GIDC and the state government are accountable for the large tracts of land that have been lying unutilised, after allottment or acquisition. Such land could simpy be handed back to people from whom it was acquired in the name of 'public purpose', rather than it being allowed to remain in 'suspended industrialisation' mode for years and then swiftly being handed over to SEZ developers at cheaper rates.
Himanshu Upadhyaya 30 June 2009
Himanshu Upadhyaya is an independent researcher working on Public Finance and Accountability issues.

Compensate For Rampant Hill Cutting & De-Forestation: SVM

Get notified SEZs de-notified, SVM tells govt
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 16

Welcoming the decision of the Goa government to scrap the SEZ policy for Goa, the SEZ Virodhi Manch has warned that it will not rest till the approvals granted by the Central government are withdrawn and the notified SEZs denotified.

Demanding that the government should not enter into any deal with any of the developers in form of compensation for work done and who have committed illegal acts to get their SEZs approved or notified, the SVM has further warned the SEZ promoters not to play with the sentiments of the people and voluntarily walk out of these SEZ projects as they will not be allowed to set up shop in the state in any form.

“The SEZ promoters should compensate the concerned villages for the destruction committed in form of rampant hill cutting and de-forestation”, the Manch demanded.

Thanking Chief Minister on behalf of the Aam Aadmi for taking one more bold step to show that he is with the people and is serious with his intentions to scrap SEZs in Goa much against the wishes of some of his colleagues, the Manch said “the battle is won, but the war is far from over for SVM. The government must now pursue the matter with the Central government and get the approvals granted to SEZ companies withdrawn and the notified SEZs de-notified”.

“The government decision is a victory for the SEZ Virodhi Manch and the Aam Aadmi. Every since the Digambar Kamat had announced the scrapping of SEZs in Goa on January 1, 2008 bowing down to the demands of the people, SVM have time and again held various agitations, public meetings, morchas demanding scrapping of the SEZ policy”, the Manch said, adding that the government has once again bowed down to the wishes of the Aam Aadmi and scrapped the SEZ policy in the State.

The Manch has warned the Centre to make wise sense prevail and bow down to the demands of the people and the State government. “The vested interests of the Board of Approvals, Delhi stand exposed wherein when various SEZs have been denotified at the request of the SEZ promoters, the Board of Approvals refuse to denotify SEZs in Goa even after being demanded by the people of the State and the Goa government who had recommended the approvals”, Manch Convenor Charles Fernandes said.

http://www.oheraldo .in/pagedetails. asp?nid=23241&cid=26

Hearings of SEZ pleas adjourned

17 Jun 2009, 0343 hrs IST, TNN
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday adjourned the hearings of SEZ-related petitions to July 27.
The court also allowed advocates appearing in the cases to amend the petitions in view of the state government's decision to withdraw its SEZ policy.
During the hearing, advocate Surendra Dessai, appearing for some of the SEZ developers, prayed that he may be allowed to withdraw the petitions and file fresh pleas. "This must be done to incorporate the fresh developments on the SEZ policy," he said.
At this point, advocates appearing for the remaining parties submitted that instead of filing fresh petitions, the court should allow the parties to amend their present petitions.
A bench comprising Justice B P Dharmadhikari and Justice U D Salvi was hearing petitions filed by six SEZ promoters -- Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distribution Private Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Company Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd.
The promoters had approached the court after the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) served show cause notices to them over withdrawal of land allotted to the promoters. GIDC had acquired about 3.8m sq m of land for setting up SEZs.

Adv Sonak, GIDC MD sued for professional misconduct

HERALD CORRESPONDENT, CORTALIM, JUNE 15
An application seeking action against High Court Advocate Mahesh S Sonak and the Managing Director of Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) A V Palekar for professional misconduct has been filed in the Bombay High Court.
The applicant has sought action against the lawyer under Bombay High Court Rules and Advocates Act and the Bar Council of India Rules.
The applicant, John Philip Pereira of Nagoa-Salcete, an anti-SEZ activist, is the petitioner in the writ petition filed against GIDC and six others. The applicant has alleged that Adv Sonak, despite being on the GIDC panel of advocates, appeared for respondents 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (all SEZ firms) in utter disregard to professional ethics. In this case, the State of Goa is respondent 1, while the GIDC is respondent 2.
Moreover, the application also states that Respondent 7, represented by Adv Sonak with Adv N Vaze, had filed a writ against GIDC.The petition, according to Pereira, was filed after an order was passed by the High Court in a writ petition of which Para No 7 states: “the counsel for GIDC assures the court that in case of Respondent 7, all steps which are required in law for canceling the allotment and lease agreement, etc would be initiated and completed before September 8, 2008 by GIDC. This is a clear indication that GIDC’s policy was not in favour of SEZ’s in Goa.
This, the applicant alleged, is a clear violation of Rule 7(ii) of GIDC (terms and conditions of fees to the Corporation’s Counsels) which states “The advocate on panel shall have the right to private practice in all matters except in civil matters, which should not interfere with the efficient discharge of his functions and duties. He will not advise or accept against the Corporation in any cases in which he is likely to be called upon to appear or advise or it is likely to affect or lead to litigation against the Corporation.”
The applicant also accused Sonak of violating Rule 22 of High Court of Bombay original side rules.Praying for suspension of sanad of Adv Sonak and action under relevant rules, the applicant also sought action against the managing director of GIDC for his acts of commission and omission.
When contacted, Adv Sonak said he could not offer his comments since the matter was sub-judice. Meanwhile, the application and writ petition is likely to come before High Court on June 16

Goa scraps SEZ policy, at last

HERALD REPORTER, PANJIM, JUNE 15
Finally, the controversial Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy 2006 is scrapped. Interestingly, the Cabinet decision on this comes one-and-a-half year after the Goa Government officially said ‘No’ to SEZs in Goa.
“The Cabinet today has decided to withdraw SEZ policy 2006”, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat announced at a post-Cabinet press conference here.Kamat, who was accompanied by Home Minister Ravi Naik, claimed that his Government would continue its opposition to setting up SEZs in the State as they were opposed by the public at large. He said that the State has not given any thought for compensating the SEZ developers although the money paid by them in purchasing land would be reimbursed.
While the 15 approved SEZs have been scrapped, the Government is still nagged with the issue of three SEZs developers -- Meditab Specialities, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and K Raheja — which were notified. It may be recalled that during Pratapsing Rane-Government in 2006, Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) allotted huge tracts of land to several companies, for setting up 18 SEZs in Goa. Some allotments were made by GIDC even before the Goa SEZ Policy was notified.
SEZ Virodhi Manch as well as Goa’s Movement Against SEZ were formed and with citizens’ overwhelming support, an agitation was started against SEZs. BJP belatedly joined the bandwagon and made it an election issue in a big way but ultimately failed to be the single largest party in the 2007 assembly election. Denials notwithstanding, BJP was in favour of two SEZs until anti-SEZ protests intensified when it changed its stand.
NO SEZ: A couple of months after the new Government of Digambar Kamat was installed, the anti-SEZ agitation was intensified. Ultimately, respecting the sentiments of the people, Digambar Kamat took a decision to scrap SEZs in Goa on January 1, 2008 – as New Year’s gift to the people of the State. It is still considered to be the boldest decision taken by Kamat as he went against the interests of many of his ministerial colleagues and senior leaders of Congress party.

PROPOSAL: Since January 2008, SEZ Virodhi Manch and GMAS among others had been demanding scrapping of the Goa SEZ Policy, 2006. In this backdrop, the Industries Department put up a note to the Government last year, for scrapping the SEZ Policy, it had drafted three years ago. But the proposal, for reasons unknown, was kept pending for months.
DENOTIFY: Union commerce ministry’s Board of Approval is yet to denotify these SEZs despite several communications from the State Government opposing these industrial enclaves. Asked whether the withdrawal will help the denotification of the three SEZs, Kamat said “I don’t know.” “You are free to make your own assumptions I don’t want to say anything”, he said adding, “I again reiterate that my Government is doing everything to see that the SEZs are denotified”.
Incidentally, the chief minister, during his recent visit to New Delhi, is learnt to have pursued the demand for denotifying the three SEZs, with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and other central leaders including Union Minister for Commerce Anand Sharma

Food Park?

MLA draws flak at Quepem:
Villagers of Betul-Naquerim and Quittol vowed to vehemently oppose the proposed Industrial Estate at Quittol, Quepem, at a meeting organised by the Betul-Naquerim Citizens Action Committee at Quepem on May 24. Among the speakers, Fr Maverick Fernandes, executive secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace, stressed that the existing Industrial Estates in the state have been of very little help to the local people as they do not offer sufficient remuneration and hence benefit the outsiders. [GT]

Quepem meet throws light on ill effects of food park
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
QUEPEM, MAY 24
The Betul, Canaguini Naquerim Citizen Action Committee on Sunday organized a public meeting in Quepem to create awareness among the people about the ill effects of the proposed Food Park/Industrial Estate at Naquerim.
Addressing the gathering, Council for Social Justice and Peace Executive Secretary Fr Maverick Fernandes said that every development should be a sustainable one.“Most industrial estates in the State are situated on the plateaus, while the settlement areas are at a low-lying area. The illegal digging of bore wells by the industries to meet water demand and release of industrial waste has afected the locals badly,” informed Fr Fernandes.
Criticizing government’s policy of the food park at Betul, Fr Fernandes said that hospitality services means resorts, including villas, but the government tells the people something else. “Most industries in the State are sick units and government support these industries at the cost of Goan tax payers even though these industries in no way help the Goans,” he added. “Land is our identity and if it is gone in the hands of outsiders, then we will lose our identity,” said Fr Fernandes.
Speaking on the occasion, social activist Dr Jorson Fernandes said that the State government has no right to bring industries of a particular nature when there is no proper labour supply in the State.“The government should promote educational institution to train labour and then think of setting up industries. The mismanagement has resulted in migration of outsiders,” he stated. “The government buys the land from locals at Rs 20 and sells it to private companies at Rs 620. Then to whom does these money go,” asked Dr Fernandes. He further stated that setting up of industrial estate would result in shortage of water and electricity to the locals.
Canaguini Church Parish Priest Fr Henry D’Souza said that the locals have to chose what is good and bad for them, but the local representatives impose on them what they do not want. Other who addressed the meeting includes Betul, Canaguini Naquerim Citizen Action Committee Vice
President Percy Pereira and Sudhaker Joshi.

Govt. panel comes down heavily on SEZs

http://www.thehindu .com/holnus/ 002200905101212. htm<http://www.thehindu .com/holnus/ 002200905101212. htm>
New Delhi (PTI):
Special Economic Zones have come in for sharp criticism from a high-level government panel which said that creation of SEZs not only meant "betting on the strong" but also providing a "special level playing field" for the mightycorporates."...
The creation of SEZs that manifestly benefit the large corporate entities is a case of not only betting on the strong but one of creating a special playing field for the alreadymighty...," the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) said in its final report submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Commission headed by noted economist Arjun Sengupta observedthat instead of creating 'special enclaves' for the big andstrong on freshly acquired land, "a hard look is warrantedtowards areas that have spawned clusters of single products ormulti-products and services."
Enterprises and establishments in the Indian economy need a'level playing field' especially when a large proportion of theunits are too small to access raw materials, credit, technologyand markets at costs that are comparable to large units, it said.
NCEUS has suggested creation of 'growth poles', comprising microand small units providing them fiscal incentives at par withSEZs.
The 'growth poles' of small and micro units should receive thesame fiscal incentives as given to those operating in SEZs. Thedevelopers and infrastructure service providers should also get similar benefits, NCEUS said.
"Such support would be much more justifiable than the support received by the bigger and stronger units in SEZs," it said.
The Commission further said the actual cost of such support would not be very large, because most of these small and micro units do not pay much tax or duties now and may be liable to pay such taxes only after they reach a certain stage of development.
The micro and small enterprises provide employment to over 42million people and contribute 45 per cent of India's industrial output.

File SEZ pleas by May 7, HC directs petitioners

28 Apr 2009, 0242 hrs IST, TNN
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed all advocates appearing in petitions relating to special economic zones (SEZs) in the state to finish filing and finalise exchanging their pleadings by May 7, 2009.
A division bench of Justice B P Dharmadhikari and Justice U D Salvi made it clear that "no further adjournments would be granted". They further suggested that the petitions could be taken up for final disposal in June this year.
The court was hearing petitions filed by six SEZ promoters who have challenged the show cause notices issued by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).
The notices direct the promoters to stop work and revert the land allotted to them by the state government, in view of a change in the state's SEZ policy.
The promoters Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd., Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distribution Private Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Company Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltdhave pleaded in their petitions that as they have invested heavily in the SEZ projects, they suffered huge losses due to the stop work orders issued by the state government. They prayed that the notices be quashed.
Goa Industrial Development Corporation had acquired about 3.8 million sq m of land across the state to set up SEZs. Following large scale opposition from locals to the special economic zones in 2007-08, the state was forced to rethink its policy and subsequently issued show cause notices through the GIDC.
Meanwhile, the court will, on May 7, also hear various public interest litigations filed by the villagers of Keri, Sancoale and Verna challenging the GIDC's decision to allot land in their respective villages on lease agreements for SEZs.
The villagers have complained that the land was allotted fraudulently and without public involvement in the land allotment process.

Complete pleadings by May 7, SEZ firms told
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 27

The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday directed that filing and exchanging of pleadings pertaining to petitions on Special Economic Zone (SEZ) be completed by May 7, 2009.Declining to adjourn the hearing after vacations, the High Court asked counsels appearing for SEZ companies to complete the pleadings by May 7.

The Division Bench of Justices B P Dharmadhikari and U D Salvi made it clear that no further adjournments would be granted. The petitions are likely to be taken up for final disposal after vacations.

The SEZ promoters - Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, Peninsular Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distribution Private Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Company Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Company Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd, are before the High Court. They have challenged the show cause notices issued to them by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for withdrawing the land allotted in industrial estates.

The GIDC decided to take back the land allotted after the State Government reversed its decision of allowing SEZs in Goa when it realized that people will oppose SEZs tooth and nail. It was the first major decision of chief minister Digambar Kamat despite having pro-SEZ ministers in the cabinet.

The GIDC has come under cloud over allotment of to SEZ developers . – it has been directly indicted in Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The CAG has revealed poor financial management and irregularities conducted by GIDC in allotment of land. Deficiencies and irregularities resulted a loss of Rs 127.25 crore to the Corporation, says the report Allotment of land to SEZ projects was blatantly irregular. The Corporation allotted 38.41 lakh sq meter land for setting up seven SEZs at three of its industrial estates at Verna, Sancoale and Keri.Contention of the petitioners is that as they have invested heavily in SEZ projects and suffered huge losses due to the stop work orders of the government.

On the other hand a couple of Public Interest litigations (PILs) filed by villagers of Keri, Sancoale and Verna, challenging GIDC’s decision to allot land in their respective villages on lease agreements to SEZs stakeholders, are also pending before the High Court. Their charge is GIDC fraudulently allotted land to SEZ developers.

SVM demands registering FIR against IDC directors

SVM demands registering FIR against IDC directors
Challenges GCCI president on employment of Goans
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 13
Citing the report of Comptroller and Auditor General, SEZ Virodhi Manch on Monday pressed for the much-awaited registering of the FIR against those in the Goa Industrial Development Corporation who are responsible for the alleged and fraudulent process of land allotment for SEZs in Goa.
Addressing a press conference in the city Monday, SVM Convenor Charles Fernandes said the stand of SVM had been vindicated as the CAG report had exposed the fraudulent process of land allotments by the GIDC. The CAG report has observed: No system exists to assess the requirement in accordance with any specific project of its own or local demand of industries and allotments are made without any transparent selection procedures. Audit noticed irregularities in 86 allotments (46.24 lakh sq m) involving loss of revenue of Rs 102.64 crore.
Charles said since October 22, 2007, complaints were filed at various police stations against the fraud backed by documents procured under RTI from the GIDC to uncover the big scam. At the same press conference today, SVM strongly condemned the reported statements made by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nitin Kuncolienkar who criticised Goans for opposing the SEZ fraud.
Social activist Pravin Sabnis, who was present, alleged that Kuncolienkar was very much a part of the process of land allotments for SEZs which in reality was a real estate scam.
SVM has challenged the GCCI president to publish the percentage of Goan youth employed in the 22 industrial estates existing in the State before favouring more industries.
It further challenged Kuncolienkar to do away with the contract labour system and regulated the minimum wages in the existing industrial estates.
Convenor of Jagrut Goem Aravind Bhatikar, who remained present at the briefing, also took potshots at GCCI. General Secretary of Council for Social Justice & Peace Fr Maverick Fernandes was also present.
Meanwhile, the petitions by different villagers against the land scam are coming up for hearing on April 27. Working President SVM Franky Monteiro said they would wait for the authorities to take the desired action in the case and if nothing happened soon after the Lok Sabha election they would go on agitation mode.

SVM Press Note:

(press conference held on 13 April 2009)
The SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) strongly condemns the reported statements of the GCCI President Nitin Kuncolienkar who has supported SEZs in Goa and has made malicious accusations against Goans who are opposing the fraud of SEZs.

Mr Kuncolienkar's stance is not surprising since he has been an integral part of the process and system that manipulated and subverted legality while acquiring and allotting land for SEZs in Goa. Mr Kuncolienkar seems very concerned about over one lakh unemployed youth in the State for the benefit of whom he intends setting up additional Industrial estates/Industries/Sez’s in Goa. SVM would highly appreciate if Mr Kuncolienkar could publish the percentage of goan youth employed in the 22 Industrial Estates existing in the State. The primary issue Mr Kuncolienkar should tackle on priority is to abolish contract labour system and regulate the minimum wages in the existing Industrial Estates/Industries before harping on additional Industries/SEZ’s.

SVM would also want the people in the State to know the quantum of land acquired by GIDC for the 22 Industrial Estates and the actual area granted to goan entrepreneurs/small scale industries and the area allotted to Industrial giants/Multi National companies. Goa doesn’t need development in the form of Industries alone and moreover without planning required infrastructure for the same, e.g an area of over 30 lakh sq. mts. is decided to be acquired by GIDC for phase IV of Verna Industrial Estate in 1996 when the process of acquisition of 13.67 lakhs sq. mts. for Phase III is not even complete.

The SVM stand has been further vindicated by the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, which have exposed major discrepancies in acquisition and allotment of land by the GIDC with regards to SEZs in Goa. The CAG has observed: No system exists to assess the requirement in accordance with any specific project of its own or local demand of Industries and allotments are made without any transparent selection procedures. Audit noticed irregularities in 86 allotments (46.24 lakh sq. mts.) involving loss of revenue of Rs. 102.64 crores.

The SVM demands for the prosecution against all authorities and individuals involved in the sins of omission and commission in the fraudulent process of allotment of land for SEZs in Goa. The Government of Goa, by only paying lip service to the opposition of the Goans to the fraud of SEZs, is obviously seeking to make a fool of Goans who have unanimously opposed SEZs. Since 22 October 2007, complaints were filed at various Police Stations, against the fraud of the process of application and allotment of land to SEZ promoters for setting up SEZs. The complaints were backed with documents procured (under RTI) from the GIDC to uncover the illegal and immoral scam of the SEZ’s in Goa.

The SVM demands that the Goa Police should avoid the delay tactics and immediately register the FIR, especially since the CAG itself has exposed the blatant irregularities in the case. The SVM also demands that all the officers of the GIDC, who are involved in the facilitation of the fraud should be placed under suspension and they should be prosecuted for their crimes. Similarly action has to be initiated against all the companies and Govt. authorities who manipulated the process for getting approval for the SEZ’s in Goa.

The SVM will be meeting the Governor and various other authorities to initiate action against those involved in the SEZ land scam. The SVM will also start a series of protests as well as awareness campaigns.

Yours truly,
Charles Fernandes
Convenor - SVM

Alexyz's take on Congress Candidate's double speak on SEZs in Goa