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Goa, the SEZ Virodhi Manch has warned that it will not rest till the approvals granted by the Central government are withdrawn and the notified SEZs denotified.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 The government must now pursue the matter with the Central government and get the approvals granted to SEZ companies withdrawn and the notified SEZs de-notified”.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.

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