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