Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 5, 2007: The anti-Special Economic Zone movement today gave an ultimatum to the government to cancel all permissions given to for the SEZs in the Astate by November 20, or else face a statewide agitation.

The convenor of the movement, Mr Matanhy Saldanha informing about this said that the decision was reached after a meeting of some political parties and NGOs convened in a city hotel, today. The only aim of the movement is to oppose the SEZs in the state which will end the identity of Goa, he added.

The meeting also decided that though the movement will include representatives of various political parties, they will not use the forum to discuss any issue other than the SEZs. Mr Saldanha further said that the government has made no study about the impact of SEZs on the state.

A working committee under the leadership of Mr Saldanha has also been constituted which includes the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, Mr Anaclet Viegas of United Goans Democratic Party and Mr Froilano Lobo of Goa Su-Raj Party. Mr Christopher Fonseca has been appointed as one of the advisors of this movement. The meeting was also attended by the former ministers, Ms Nirmala Sawant and Mr Wilfred Mesquita and Mr Govind Parvatkar.

Mr Saldanha said that all the Goans are fully aware about the impact of the SEZs on the state, and would force the government to withdraw the permissions given to them, till date.

Source: The Navhind Times