Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 12, 2007: Reiterating his party’s opposition to special economic zones in Goa, the state president of the Nationalist Congress party, Dr Wilfred de Souza today urged the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat to immediately stop all ongoing works of SEZs in Goa.

Dr de Souza also demanded that the Chief Minister order an investigation into the allotment of land for SEZ to private companies and unearth those responsible for the same.Addressing a press conference today, Dr de Souza said, “I made it clear long ago that the NCP is against SEZs in Goa. Goa is a very small state and cannot afford to give away vast tracts of land particularly to non-Goans.’’

Dr de Souza will take up the issue of SEZs in Goa with his party high command so that they can advise the Congress high command to direct the local Congress government to stop work on SEZs in the state. Dr de Souza said that since the NCP and Congress are coalition partners in the state government, the NCP high command will urge the Congress high command on the SEZ issue.

He informed that he had taken up the issue with Mr Kamat soon after he took over as the CM. When the issue was brought up again during the meeting of the Planning Commission, Dr de Souza said the Chief Minister had told him that he himself is not in favour of SEZs in Goa and that the two SEZs that have been approved will be reviewed. But Dr de Souza lamented that work on SEZs is in progress.

Source: The Navhind Times