HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 24
Agitated by the government’s indifferent attitude towards SEZ (special economic zones) issue, the SEZ Virodhi Manch is in the process of reviving its agitation and will hold a mass rally at Lohia Maidan on November 21 to expose the government on its alleged “double talk” and demand cancellation of the SEZ policy, and also compel the government to hold CBI inquiry against officials of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for alleged fraudulent allotment of industrial plots to SEZ developers.
The SEZ Virodhi Manch spokesperson Praveen Sabnis told a press conference on Friday here that the government has not scraped the SEZ Policy nor ordered investigation into “fraudulent allotment” of plots to SEZ developers even as a police complaint was filed a year ago.
He alleged that government’s so far response has been lukewarm -- persistent refusal of the government to withdraw the SEZ Policy exposes hidden agenda of the government.
The SVM has warned the government not to take the people of Goa for a ride by allowing Goa to be monopolised by a few real estate giants under the guise of setting up industry, all the while advising Goan youth to set up their own small scale industry without offering them any concessions.
Condemning the statements by Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath that land allotted by GIDC to SEZ developers could remain with those developers to enable them to develop industry under normal rules and regulations of the GIDC, even after scrapping of the SEZ, Sabnis said, on November 21 government would be given a deadline to act on demands made.
He said, the entire allotment of about 40 lakh sq meters to SEZ promoters in three different villages are earmarked as industrial estates by the government and declared as notified areas , and hence it is unfair and goes against the rules to allow allotted land to be used by SEZ developers. It strongly demanded that vast tracks of land allotment at Verna, Keri and Sancoale made to five real estate developers by GIDC should be taken back before it goes into hands of real estate sharks.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
PRESS NOTE issued on Sunday 5 October 2008
The SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) strongly condemns the statements of the Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Kamal Nath who wants Goa government to allow developers of three notified SEZs to set up some other industry on the land allotted to them. The SVM warns the CM Digambar Kamat, MP Shantaram Naik and others of facilitating the entry of the SEZs through the back door.
Since 22 October 2007, complaints were filed at various Police Stations, against the fraud of the process of application and approval of SEZs. Time and again, the SVM has used documents procured (under RTI) from the GIDC to uncover the illegal and immoral scam of the SEZs in Goa.
The SVM has also exposed the malafide intentions and actions of the Government of Goa which is only paying lip service to the opposition of the Goans to the menace of SEZs. It is obvious that the Government is seeking to make a fool of all the Goan people who have unanimously opposed SEZs in Goa.
The SVM also demands that the Government should not enter into any deal with any of the developers who have committed illegal acts to get their SEZs approved or notified. On the contrary, the SEZ promoters should compensate the concerned villages for the destruction committed by them and they should also face the penalty and punishment for subverting and manipulating the laws of the land.
The SVM warns the Governments at the State and at the Centre to not cheat the people of Goa on the issue of SEZs. The SVM resolves to get back to the streets to remind the politicians and the SEZ promoters that the SEZs in any form, will not be permitted to enter Goa.
Yours truly,
Charles Fernandes
Convenor - SVM
Since 22 October 2007, complaints were filed at various Police Stations, against the fraud of the process of application and approval of SEZs. Time and again, the SVM has used documents procured (under RTI) from the GIDC to uncover the illegal and immoral scam of the SEZs in Goa.
The SVM has also exposed the malafide intentions and actions of the Government of Goa which is only paying lip service to the opposition of the Goans to the menace of SEZs. It is obvious that the Government is seeking to make a fool of all the Goan people who have unanimously opposed SEZs in Goa.
The SVM also demands that the Government should not enter into any deal with any of the developers who have committed illegal acts to get their SEZs approved or notified. On the contrary, the SEZ promoters should compensate the concerned villages for the destruction committed by them and they should also face the penalty and punishment for subverting and manipulating the laws of the land.
The SVM warns the Governments at the State and at the Centre to not cheat the people of Goa on the issue of SEZs. The SVM resolves to get back to the streets to remind the politicians and the SEZ promoters that the SEZs in any form, will not be permitted to enter Goa.
Yours truly,
Charles Fernandes
Convenor - SVM
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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.
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.
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