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.
Monday, September 8, 2008
report in Economic Times
Court to hear developers' plea in Goa SEZ muddle
7 Sep, 2008, 1857 hrs IST, IANS
PANAJI: The controversy over special economic zones in Goa is headed for a showdown with the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court scheduled to hear Monday a bunch of petitions filed by SEZ developers against cancellation of land allotted to them.
The Goa government, under public pressure, was forced to take a policy decision to scrap the mammoth SEZ projects, but the central government has refused to play ball. The union commerce ministry has maintained that once the Board of Approvals, a nodal agency for SEZs, notified a project, the state has no powers to scrap it.
The seven SEZ promoters - Meditabh Specialities Pvt Ltd, Cipla group, Peninsular Pharma Research Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distributors, Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow - approached the high court, after the Goa Industries Development Corporation (GIDC) served notices asking them why the land allotted to them should not be withdrawn in view of the state government's new policy. The GIDC is the government agency through which Goa has acquired about 3.8 million square metres of land for setting up SEZs.
The high court had ordered a status quo on the issue, until the matter came up for hearing Sep 8. The allegedly hasty manner in which large chunks of land were allotted to industrial houses had led to numerous civic campaigns and a series of public demonstrations demanding that the government scrap the SEZ policy. It forced the Digambar Kamat-led government to take a public stance against SEZ. The government said on the floor of the assembly during its recently concluded session that "in public interest, the government has taken a policy decision not to permit any SEZ in Goa."
But organisations like the Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA), spearheading the campaign against SEZs and other mega projects in the state, feel that Chief Minister Kamat was not walking the talk. "The plans in the Sancoale SEZ case were approved by the GIDC on April 15, a long while after the government's 'decision' to scrap SEZ," alleged GBA spokesperson Pravin Sabnis.
Nitin Kunkolienkar, a GIDC director, told IANS the corporation would take the land back even as he maintained Goa needed at least two to three SEZ, which could host non-polluting industries to bring forth economic development and generate jobs. "The contentious issue right now is the quantum of land given to the SEZ developers. It (land) should not be so much," Kunkolienkar said, adding that he was opposed to real estate development in the name of SEZ.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
GIDC BIGGEST LAND GRABBER IN GOA
by JONQUIL SUDHIR (Goan Observer)
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation will control 1,76,94,434 square metres of land in the state if it acquires all the land it proposes to.
THE APPREHENSION that the government is seizing land under a new garb, after the diabolical regional plan 2011 was scrapped, could well be true considering the fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) plans to have over one crore square metres of Goan land under its control. This was revealed during the recently concluded Legislative Assembly session, when the Chief Minister replied to a question by Laxmikant Parsekar.
Chief Minister Digamber Kamat replied that the GIDC has already acquired 14,30,534 sq ms between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008. Out of this, a whopping 13,11,731 sq ms has been acquired for a food park and industrial estate in Quitol, Quepem, while the GIDC is in the process of further acquiring another 1,28,000 sq ms. Betul Hospitality Pvt Ltd has already been allotted 4,28,155 sq ms so that it can set up “auxiliary services to the food park including hospitality and service sector units. Why a hospitality company needs over four lakh square metres of land to set up hospitality and service sector units has not been explained, raising doubts that a mammoth project, initially planned under the Regional Plan 2011, is coming up in Quitol.
CLAREMONT
IT will be recalled that though the government had earmarked a large plot in Quepem for a food park, it was later discovered that a UK-based company called Claremont International was hard-selling a plush resort complex proposed to be built on the property. Though its website claimed the resort was to be set up in Canacona, the survey numbers matched those of the plots allotted for the Food Park in Quitol.
Boasting of a 150-acre plot with “significant beach frontage”, Claremont’s plans for the complex included a lagoon, a five star hotel, over 200 suites, 800 villas, a wedding hall, conference facilities, a harbour, a spa, swimming pools, tennis courts, a casino and even a cinema! Claiming that construction would begin in October 2007 and end in December 2009, Claremont International had even invited buyers to invest in the property. Since no details have been provided about the companies that will be allotted plots in the ‘food park’, there are serious concerns that the food park is a mere cover-up for Claremont’s grandiose housing complex.
LAND HAUL
OVER the last two years, the GIDC has been in the process of acquiring 13,30,461 sq ms. The majority of this land – 5,38,715 sq ms – is being acquired to expand the Tuem Industrial Estate in Pernem. The GIDC plans on expanding the Sancoale Industrial Estate and the Bethora Industrial Estate by another 1,81,200 sq ms and 1,81,100 sq ms respectively. The Corporation is also acquiring land to develop the Cacora, Pilerne and Verna industrial estates.
In addition to this, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation also proposes to acquire 1,49,33,439 sq ms. The GIDC appears to have set its sights on the hitherto relatively untouched Canacona, where it proposes to acquire 94,05,334 sq ms. While 20,00,000 sq ms is planned for Phase-I of an industrial estate, 51,80,259 sq ms has been proposed for Phase-II. The remaining 22,25,075 sq ms has been proposed for an industrial estate in Poinguinim. The second larger land acquisition planned is for an industrial estate in Melauli, Sattari where 13,81,225 sq ms is the GIDC target. It also wants 13,49,500 sq ms for a knowledge park in Cortalim and 3,54,445 sq ms for an industrial estate in Dhargal, Pernem.
The Corporation also wants to acquire land for numerous other projects across the state – these include expansion of the Cuncolim, Verna, Colvale and Pilerne industrial estates as well as for a knowledge park in Cortalim. Interestingly, the GIDC also plans to acquire 43,560 sq ms to construct an approach road to land acquired by it in Sancoale!
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
FROM January 2006 to July 31, 2008, 259 plots have been allotted to industries while the government has admitted to allotting 11 plots to Special Economic Zones (in the reply, the Chief Minister has not stated that the land will be revoked). The residents of Verna have been agitating against the intrusion of industry on their land and replies to assembly questions reveal that they have good reason to be aggrieved. Over the past year-and-a-half, the GIDC has allotted 29,75,399 sq ms of land to 89 companies in the Verna Industrial Estate.
Goan entrepreneurs may be even more irked as small-scale local companies have been allotted the land at a rate between Rs. 650 and Rs. 1300 per square metre, while bigwigs like the Rahejas and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd have been allotted land in Phase-IV of the industrial estate for Rs. 600 per sq m (for main project areas) and Rs. 100 per sq m (for approach roads). Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd has been allotted 3,86,665 sq ms. K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd were allotted 10,59,118 sq ms and 5,19,832 sq ms respectively. Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd was given 1,43,176 sq ms and Max Grow Finlease Pvt Ltd, 2,03,445 sq ms. Giovanni Karl Vaz, former MLA of Mormugao, was allotted land in the Verna Industrial Estate for Rs. 1300 per sq m to construct a hotel.
In the Honda Industrial Estate, a total of 1,31,958 sq ms has been allotted to seven companies at the rate of Rs. 120 to Rs. 300 per sq m. While 1429 sq ms of land has been allotted to two companies in the Pilerne Industrial Estate at the rate of Rs. 225 to Rs. 400 per sq m. At the Kundaim Industrial Estate, 20 companies have been allotted a total of 90,299 sq ms for Rs. 150-500 per sq m while 67,457.50 sq ms in the Shiroda Industrial Estate has been allotted to Miditech Pvt Ltd by the GIDC Board for Rs. 275 per sq m. In Pissurlem, 19 companies have been allotted land. Incidentally, Nicomet Industries Ltd and Sunrise Zinc Ltd, steel rolling mills which were found to be highly polluting, in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate were also allotted 20,800 sq ms and 10,000 sq ms respectively for land fill sites!
UNUTILISED
FURTHER adding to the speculation that land has been allotted to parties with dubious intentions is the fact that 118 plots have been left unutilised, while only 97 plots have been utilised for the same purpose it had been allotted for. Though Olinda Miranda was allotted 1000 sq ms for storage in the Colvale Industrial Estate in March 2006, she is yet to use it. A total of 30,615.5 sq ms has been left unused in the Honda Industrial Estate while 40,829 sq ms is yet to be utilised in the Kundaim Industrial Estate. After opposition from Goans against SEZs, comapanies allotted land n Phase – IV of the Verna Industrial Estate have not been able to progress with their projects. Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd has also been unable to set up shop in Sancoale for the same reason.
In the Verna Industrial Estate, of the 89 companies that were allotted land, 66 have left the land unused. Prominent among these are Karl Vaz (3036 sq ms), Lupin Ltd (33,000 sq ms) and Roopa Kunkolienkar. In the Sanguem Industrial Estate, 94,120 sq ms has not been put to use; among those who have failed to use the land are Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd (38,000 sq ms) and Dinesh Dessai (25,100 sq ms). Karl Vaz’ property was later transferred to Muktar Minerals Pvt Ltd while Roopa Kunkolienkar’s was transferred to Shaikh Nadim Haveri. Three separate plots allotted to Power Engineering Pvt Ltd at the Tuem Industrial Estate was transferred to Shree Mahalsa Power Rentals, Precision Components Pvt Ltd and Genset Controls Pvt Ltd, all sister concerns of Power Engineering Pvt Ltd.
The fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has acquired and continues to acquire large tracts of land across the length and breadth of the state, despite the fact that many of these plots remain unused, perhaps gives credence to the belief that the projects proposed under the Regional Plan 2011 are still alive and may proceed through a back door – the GIDC.
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation will control 1,76,94,434 square metres of land in the state if it acquires all the land it proposes to.
THE APPREHENSION that the government is seizing land under a new garb, after the diabolical regional plan 2011 was scrapped, could well be true considering the fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) plans to have over one crore square metres of Goan land under its control. This was revealed during the recently concluded Legislative Assembly session, when the Chief Minister replied to a question by Laxmikant Parsekar.
Chief Minister Digamber Kamat replied that the GIDC has already acquired 14,30,534 sq ms between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008. Out of this, a whopping 13,11,731 sq ms has been acquired for a food park and industrial estate in Quitol, Quepem, while the GIDC is in the process of further acquiring another 1,28,000 sq ms. Betul Hospitality Pvt Ltd has already been allotted 4,28,155 sq ms so that it can set up “auxiliary services to the food park including hospitality and service sector units. Why a hospitality company needs over four lakh square metres of land to set up hospitality and service sector units has not been explained, raising doubts that a mammoth project, initially planned under the Regional Plan 2011, is coming up in Quitol.
CLAREMONT
IT will be recalled that though the government had earmarked a large plot in Quepem for a food park, it was later discovered that a UK-based company called Claremont International was hard-selling a plush resort complex proposed to be built on the property. Though its website claimed the resort was to be set up in Canacona, the survey numbers matched those of the plots allotted for the Food Park in Quitol.
Boasting of a 150-acre plot with “significant beach frontage”, Claremont’s plans for the complex included a lagoon, a five star hotel, over 200 suites, 800 villas, a wedding hall, conference facilities, a harbour, a spa, swimming pools, tennis courts, a casino and even a cinema! Claiming that construction would begin in October 2007 and end in December 2009, Claremont International had even invited buyers to invest in the property. Since no details have been provided about the companies that will be allotted plots in the ‘food park’, there are serious concerns that the food park is a mere cover-up for Claremont’s grandiose housing complex.
LAND HAUL
OVER the last two years, the GIDC has been in the process of acquiring 13,30,461 sq ms. The majority of this land – 5,38,715 sq ms – is being acquired to expand the Tuem Industrial Estate in Pernem. The GIDC plans on expanding the Sancoale Industrial Estate and the Bethora Industrial Estate by another 1,81,200 sq ms and 1,81,100 sq ms respectively. The Corporation is also acquiring land to develop the Cacora, Pilerne and Verna industrial estates.
In addition to this, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation also proposes to acquire 1,49,33,439 sq ms. The GIDC appears to have set its sights on the hitherto relatively untouched Canacona, where it proposes to acquire 94,05,334 sq ms. While 20,00,000 sq ms is planned for Phase-I of an industrial estate, 51,80,259 sq ms has been proposed for Phase-II. The remaining 22,25,075 sq ms has been proposed for an industrial estate in Poinguinim. The second larger land acquisition planned is for an industrial estate in Melauli, Sattari where 13,81,225 sq ms is the GIDC target. It also wants 13,49,500 sq ms for a knowledge park in Cortalim and 3,54,445 sq ms for an industrial estate in Dhargal, Pernem.
The Corporation also wants to acquire land for numerous other projects across the state – these include expansion of the Cuncolim, Verna, Colvale and Pilerne industrial estates as well as for a knowledge park in Cortalim. Interestingly, the GIDC also plans to acquire 43,560 sq ms to construct an approach road to land acquired by it in Sancoale!
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
FROM January 2006 to July 31, 2008, 259 plots have been allotted to industries while the government has admitted to allotting 11 plots to Special Economic Zones (in the reply, the Chief Minister has not stated that the land will be revoked). The residents of Verna have been agitating against the intrusion of industry on their land and replies to assembly questions reveal that they have good reason to be aggrieved. Over the past year-and-a-half, the GIDC has allotted 29,75,399 sq ms of land to 89 companies in the Verna Industrial Estate.
Goan entrepreneurs may be even more irked as small-scale local companies have been allotted the land at a rate between Rs. 650 and Rs. 1300 per square metre, while bigwigs like the Rahejas and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd have been allotted land in Phase-IV of the industrial estate for Rs. 600 per sq m (for main project areas) and Rs. 100 per sq m (for approach roads). Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd has been allotted 3,86,665 sq ms. K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd and Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd were allotted 10,59,118 sq ms and 5,19,832 sq ms respectively. Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd was given 1,43,176 sq ms and Max Grow Finlease Pvt Ltd, 2,03,445 sq ms. Giovanni Karl Vaz, former MLA of Mormugao, was allotted land in the Verna Industrial Estate for Rs. 1300 per sq m to construct a hotel.
In the Honda Industrial Estate, a total of 1,31,958 sq ms has been allotted to seven companies at the rate of Rs. 120 to Rs. 300 per sq m. While 1429 sq ms of land has been allotted to two companies in the Pilerne Industrial Estate at the rate of Rs. 225 to Rs. 400 per sq m. At the Kundaim Industrial Estate, 20 companies have been allotted a total of 90,299 sq ms for Rs. 150-500 per sq m while 67,457.50 sq ms in the Shiroda Industrial Estate has been allotted to Miditech Pvt Ltd by the GIDC Board for Rs. 275 per sq m. In Pissurlem, 19 companies have been allotted land. Incidentally, Nicomet Industries Ltd and Sunrise Zinc Ltd, steel rolling mills which were found to be highly polluting, in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate were also allotted 20,800 sq ms and 10,000 sq ms respectively for land fill sites!
UNUTILISED
FURTHER adding to the speculation that land has been allotted to parties with dubious intentions is the fact that 118 plots have been left unutilised, while only 97 plots have been utilised for the same purpose it had been allotted for. Though Olinda Miranda was allotted 1000 sq ms for storage in the Colvale Industrial Estate in March 2006, she is yet to use it. A total of 30,615.5 sq ms has been left unused in the Honda Industrial Estate while 40,829 sq ms is yet to be utilised in the Kundaim Industrial Estate. After opposition from Goans against SEZs, comapanies allotted land n Phase – IV of the Verna Industrial Estate have not been able to progress with their projects. Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd has also been unable to set up shop in Sancoale for the same reason.
In the Verna Industrial Estate, of the 89 companies that were allotted land, 66 have left the land unused. Prominent among these are Karl Vaz (3036 sq ms), Lupin Ltd (33,000 sq ms) and Roopa Kunkolienkar. In the Sanguem Industrial Estate, 94,120 sq ms has not been put to use; among those who have failed to use the land are Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd (38,000 sq ms) and Dinesh Dessai (25,100 sq ms). Karl Vaz’ property was later transferred to Muktar Minerals Pvt Ltd while Roopa Kunkolienkar’s was transferred to Shaikh Nadim Haveri. Three separate plots allotted to Power Engineering Pvt Ltd at the Tuem Industrial Estate was transferred to Shree Mahalsa Power Rentals, Precision Components Pvt Ltd and Genset Controls Pvt Ltd, all sister concerns of Power Engineering Pvt Ltd.
The fact that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has acquired and continues to acquire large tracts of land across the length and breadth of the state, despite the fact that many of these plots remain unused, perhaps gives credence to the belief that the projects proposed under the Regional Plan 2011 are still alive and may proceed through a back door – the GIDC.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
ALL´S NOT WELL
Raheja borewells at Verna under scanner
Preetu Nair TNN
Panaji: Four borewells dug by SEZ developer K Raheja Corp at the Verna industrial estate to meet their construction water needs got them a show cause notice from the water resources department, asking why action shouldn´t be initiated against them for violating the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act.
In response, Raheja has admitted to digging the bore wells and said the four borewells were dug, "before the notification of the scheduled area."
Confirming this, executive engineer and ground water officer, Margao, H M Rangaraju said, "We had issued show cause notices to two companies, one of them being Raheja, as they had dug bore wells without permission. Raheja later obtained permission from the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and has submitted an application to us to register the same. But we are yet to decide on this."
Raheja spokesperson Shabbir Kanchwala stated that they are currently buying ready mix concrete and so require less water and once the factory is operational they will be recycling water. "We will create water bodies like ponds, water falls and fountains in our campus. We will use recycled water and will not discharge it into existing waste or storm water lines. Besides, bottled water will be provided for drinking. This will not burden the existing water discharge infrastructure in the state."
The Raheja move has upset the Loutolim village panchayat members, who have passed a resolution demanding the closure or capping of these bore wells which have dried up the natural spring in the village. They informed the water resources department on June 4, 2008 about this and requested the department, "To take immediate steps to revoke all permission issued and stop issuing any further NOCs for sinking bore wells in Verna industrial estate."
It is pertinent to note that Raheja, in their application to GIDC, had stated that they would require 40 lakh litres of water a day. In the lease deal, GIDC had stated that they shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZ and the company should make their own arrangement for water during the construction stage.
Preetu Nair TNN
Panaji: Four borewells dug by SEZ developer K Raheja Corp at the Verna industrial estate to meet their construction water needs got them a show cause notice from the water resources department, asking why action shouldn´t be initiated against them for violating the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act.
In response, Raheja has admitted to digging the bore wells and said the four borewells were dug, "before the notification of the scheduled area."
Confirming this, executive engineer and ground water officer, Margao, H M Rangaraju said, "We had issued show cause notices to two companies, one of them being Raheja, as they had dug bore wells without permission. Raheja later obtained permission from the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and has submitted an application to us to register the same. But we are yet to decide on this."
Raheja spokesperson Shabbir Kanchwala stated that they are currently buying ready mix concrete and so require less water and once the factory is operational they will be recycling water. "We will create water bodies like ponds, water falls and fountains in our campus. We will use recycled water and will not discharge it into existing waste or storm water lines. Besides, bottled water will be provided for drinking. This will not burden the existing water discharge infrastructure in the state."
The Raheja move has upset the Loutolim village panchayat members, who have passed a resolution demanding the closure or capping of these bore wells which have dried up the natural spring in the village. They informed the water resources department on June 4, 2008 about this and requested the department, "To take immediate steps to revoke all permission issued and stop issuing any further NOCs for sinking bore wells in Verna industrial estate."
It is pertinent to note that Raheja, in their application to GIDC, had stated that they would require 40 lakh litres of water a day. In the lease deal, GIDC had stated that they shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZ and the company should make their own arrangement for water during the construction stage.
no walk... only misleading talk by Goa CM
The CM is only talking...
WHY can't Mr KAMAT walk the talk?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Silence protest to get MLAs to speak
Over 80 activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) stood in silent protest at the approach road of the Mandovi Bridge. The silent protest sought to draw the attention of the MLAs to walk the talk during the Assembly sessions. Placards, posters and banners were held by the protestors.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
SEZ: Unending saga
Editorial in today's oHeraldo
SEZ: Unending saga
It is the government’s continued inaction on the issue of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that is responsible for incidents like the one on Tuesday, when activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) and the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) barged into the site of the Raheja SEZ at Verna on learning that work had recommenced, forcibly stopped it, and caused the labourers at the site to flee. This would not at all have been necessary, had the government systematically probed into the SEZ mess and proceeded against the fraudsters.
In fact, it is the government’s reticence in the matter that has emboldened the Union Commerce Ministry, which seems to be unequivocally on the side of the SEZ promoters, to make outrageous and incorrect statements in the matter, and place unreasonable demands on the Goa government.
The fact is that all the SEZs have applied for land that is hugely over their real requirements. For example, why does a company that sets up its BPO units in one or two buildings in Mumbai, want 4 lakh square metres for similar units in Goa? Then, there are huge irregularities in the land allotments. These are well documented by the anti-SEZ activists through the Right to Information (RTI). They have been widely publicised through the media, both print and electronic, and never been adequately challenged, either by the SEZ promoters, the government or the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Simply setting up an inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge into these irregularities would have given the government all the ammunition it needed to conclusively end the controversy and justifiably cancel the land allotment. But it has resolutely refused to do so.
Why? Is it because too many functionaries belonging to the ruling party would get implicated in the resulting scam? Is it because a number of those that were willing accomplices in this massive fraud continue to occupy very high positions?
Whatever the reason, the refusal of the government is very intriguing. To start with, though it asserts that SEZs will never be allowed, the government is yet to officially denotify its SEZ policy. After the SEZ promoters approached the High Court, it withdrew the ‘Stop Work’ order it had issued on 31 December. It simultaneously cancelled the land allotments. However, these were cancelled by the IDC, but this was on the basis that SEZs were ‘against’ government policy, not because of any irregularities in allotment. Considering that the official SEZ policy is still in force, this cancellation is unlikely to survive a court challenge, just like the earlier ‘Stop Work’ order.
In the meanwhile, the Union Commerce Ministry is keeping up the pressure. It first said it had no power to denotify the notified SEZs. This is bunk. A plain perusal of the General Clauses Act will show that the power to notify embodies the power to denotify, and all that is required is due process. It has recently changed tack to say the SEZs will not be denotified till the Goa government compensates the SEZ promoters. This arrogant and partisan behaviour needs to be tackled at the highest level, but our Chief Minister is keeping mum.
The government’s deliberate inaction is obvious, and isn’t going to fool the people. To avoid further law and order problems, the government needs to look into the land allotments, serve notice on the SEZ promoters, expose the irregularities, cancel the land allotments, and take back the land, legally. That’s the only way out of this mess.
SEZ: Unending saga
It is the government’s continued inaction on the issue of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that is responsible for incidents like the one on Tuesday, when activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) and the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) barged into the site of the Raheja SEZ at Verna on learning that work had recommenced, forcibly stopped it, and caused the labourers at the site to flee. This would not at all have been necessary, had the government systematically probed into the SEZ mess and proceeded against the fraudsters.
In fact, it is the government’s reticence in the matter that has emboldened the Union Commerce Ministry, which seems to be unequivocally on the side of the SEZ promoters, to make outrageous and incorrect statements in the matter, and place unreasonable demands on the Goa government.
The fact is that all the SEZs have applied for land that is hugely over their real requirements. For example, why does a company that sets up its BPO units in one or two buildings in Mumbai, want 4 lakh square metres for similar units in Goa? Then, there are huge irregularities in the land allotments. These are well documented by the anti-SEZ activists through the Right to Information (RTI). They have been widely publicised through the media, both print and electronic, and never been adequately challenged, either by the SEZ promoters, the government or the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Simply setting up an inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge into these irregularities would have given the government all the ammunition it needed to conclusively end the controversy and justifiably cancel the land allotment. But it has resolutely refused to do so.
Why? Is it because too many functionaries belonging to the ruling party would get implicated in the resulting scam? Is it because a number of those that were willing accomplices in this massive fraud continue to occupy very high positions?
Whatever the reason, the refusal of the government is very intriguing. To start with, though it asserts that SEZs will never be allowed, the government is yet to officially denotify its SEZ policy. After the SEZ promoters approached the High Court, it withdrew the ‘Stop Work’ order it had issued on 31 December. It simultaneously cancelled the land allotments. However, these were cancelled by the IDC, but this was on the basis that SEZs were ‘against’ government policy, not because of any irregularities in allotment. Considering that the official SEZ policy is still in force, this cancellation is unlikely to survive a court challenge, just like the earlier ‘Stop Work’ order.
In the meanwhile, the Union Commerce Ministry is keeping up the pressure. It first said it had no power to denotify the notified SEZs. This is bunk. A plain perusal of the General Clauses Act will show that the power to notify embodies the power to denotify, and all that is required is due process. It has recently changed tack to say the SEZs will not be denotified till the Goa government compensates the SEZ promoters. This arrogant and partisan behaviour needs to be tackled at the highest level, but our Chief Minister is keeping mum.
The government’s deliberate inaction is obvious, and isn’t going to fool the people. To avoid further law and order problems, the government needs to look into the land allotments, serve notice on the SEZ promoters, expose the irregularities, cancel the land allotments, and take back the land, legally. That’s the only way out of this mess.
SVM accuses Rahejas of indulging in false accusations
NT NETWORK Posted on 2008-08-21
PANAJI - The SEZ Virodhi Manch has condemned the allegations made against peaceful protesters by the local officials of K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd and charged that it was a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the SEZ Virodhi Manch, which has been agitating peacefully against the fraud of the SEZs in Goa. In a press note issued on Wednesday, the SVM warned the Raheja SEZ officials not to indulge in false accusations and demanded withdrawal of the cases registered with the police failing which the Manch has warned that the proactive, peaceful resistance will be intensified.
Mr Charles Fernandes, the SVM convenor said that the allegations against approximately 150 peaceful protester s who prevented the company workers from continuing work at the SEZ site at Verna on Tuesday were unfounded. He further claimed that 50 per cent of the protestors were ladies, and asserted that no damage was done to company's property or any violence against the labourers and the company staff was committed by the protestors.
It also charged that it was a deliberate attempt by the Rahejas to register false cases against innocent public to force them to withdraw from such peaceful agitations. The SVM also questioned the immediate registration of offence against peaceful protesters and the failure to register an FIR lodged by villagers against the GIDC officials and SEZ promoters till date.
The SVM also questioned how the police registered an offence against the public in a notified SEZ when they do not have jurisdiction in notified SEZs as per the SEZ Act and demanded that the government immediately issue show cause notices to all the promoters of SEZs in Goa, register the FIR filed by People's Movement Against SEZ on October 22, 2007 and set up an inquiry into the scam in the process of approvals forwarded for SEZs and also called on every MLA to walk the talk against SEZs within the deliberations and resolutions in the assembly.
The SVM said that approximately 150 villagers out of which 50 per cent were ladies had gone to protest the resumption of the construction activity in the Raheja SEZ. It alleged that statements made by Raheja officials that the workers present were only minimal maintenance workers was false as could be seen from electronic footage taken and argued that about 50 workers were found working on construction.
Reiterating that absolutely no damage was done to property or violence committed towards labourers and staff present by the protesters as witnessed by two vehicles of Vema Outpost Poilce personnel present, it warned that the people were running out of patience and were being further provoked by such complaints.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2008082120
PANAJI - The SEZ Virodhi Manch has condemned the allegations made against peaceful protesters by the local officials of K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd and charged that it was a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the SEZ Virodhi Manch, which has been agitating peacefully against the fraud of the SEZs in Goa. In a press note issued on Wednesday, the SVM warned the Raheja SEZ officials not to indulge in false accusations and demanded withdrawal of the cases registered with the police failing which the Manch has warned that the proactive, peaceful resistance will be intensified.
Mr Charles Fernandes, the SVM convenor said that the allegations against approximately 150 peaceful protester s who prevented the company workers from continuing work at the SEZ site at Verna on Tuesday were unfounded. He further claimed that 50 per cent of the protestors were ladies, and asserted that no damage was done to company's property or any violence against the labourers and the company staff was committed by the protestors.
It also charged that it was a deliberate attempt by the Rahejas to register false cases against innocent public to force them to withdraw from such peaceful agitations. The SVM also questioned the immediate registration of offence against peaceful protesters and the failure to register an FIR lodged by villagers against the GIDC officials and SEZ promoters till date.
The SVM also questioned how the police registered an offence against the public in a notified SEZ when they do not have jurisdiction in notified SEZs as per the SEZ Act and demanded that the government immediately issue show cause notices to all the promoters of SEZs in Goa, register the FIR filed by People's Movement Against SEZ on October 22, 2007 and set up an inquiry into the scam in the process of approvals forwarded for SEZs and also called on every MLA to walk the talk against SEZs within the deliberations and resolutions in the assembly.
The SVM said that approximately 150 villagers out of which 50 per cent were ladies had gone to protest the resumption of the construction activity in the Raheja SEZ. It alleged that statements made by Raheja officials that the workers present were only minimal maintenance workers was false as could be seen from electronic footage taken and argued that about 50 workers were found working on construction.
Reiterating that absolutely no damage was done to property or violence committed towards labourers and staff present by the protesters as witnessed by two vehicles of Vema Outpost Poilce personnel present, it warned that the people were running out of patience and were being further provoked by such complaints.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2008082120
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