Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 15, 2007: The Bharatiya Janata party today demanded that the government de-notify the two special economic zones of Verna and Keri, which have already been notified in Goa. Addressing a press conference today, the Opposition leader Mr Manohar Parrikar said that the aim of the BJP’s campaign is to create awareness among the people.

He had spoken at around 20 public meetings about SEZs in Goa and the BJP had distributed about one lakh leaflets in south Goa. The campaign has caused a ‘’lot of churning’’, which has forced the state government to re-consider SEZs in Goa. Mr Parrikar said we have copied the SEZ model from China, which, despite its huge size, has only five SEZs. The SEZs in China are purely industrial whereas in Goa, the SEZs proposed are “a real estate scam,’’ Mr Parrikar said, adding that small pockets of SEZs in Goa are only enhancing land prices. It is more of real estate promotion rather then industry, Mr Parrikar said.

He also alleged that in addition to the Keri and Verna SEZs, the government had also approved a third SEZ belonging to Raheja. He said the government has granted license for construction for the SEZ even before notifying it. Even today it is not notified, he said. Since the Regional Plan 2011 was cancelled, the SEZs should also stand cancelled. The land use in Verna has not been changed and therefore the constructions there and all licenses are illegal, he said. Questioning the very desirability of SEZs, Mr Parrikar said that some of India’s biggest IT companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Mastek and others are not in SEZs.

The BJP spokesperson Mr Laximikant Parsekar present at the press meet said that the BJP will continue its agitation against the SEZs until the government de-notifies the two notified SEZs of Verna and Keri. The BJP, which had launched an awareness campaign against SEZs in south Goa will now launch the movement in North Goa with the first public meeting scheduled for December 2 in Pernem. Mr Parsenkar said the schedule of the other meetings will be decided soon.

Mr Parsekar noted that following the public outcry and opposition to SEZs in Goa, the government has done a U- turn about the SEZs and even offered to review the five SEZs which have been approved by the central government, which is a good thing.

Source: The Navhind Times