Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 20, 2007: Taking note of the growing opposition in the State to the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Monday took the view that the State should adopt a cautious approach while developing SEZs.

Among other things, the GCCI’s managing committee has recommended that the Government put on hold all SEZs coming up on land made available by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation until the State Task Force on land use plan gives its assessment regarding the impact of the SEZs on existing infrastructure, the environment, demography, social heritage and economic growth.

Given the limited availability of land, the SEZs should be industry specific, the industries allowed should be environment friendly, they should ensure maximum employment to local people and should not put additional pressure on already strained local infrastructure such as water, power and roads, said the GCCI.

It has demanded that the total number of SEZs should be decided after taking into consideration employment opportunities and likely stress on physical as well as social infrastructure. Moreover, the land allotted to the SEZs, if not developed within a timeframe, should revert to the Government.

The GCCI does not support commercial real estate development in the non-processing area of the SEZs, stated GCCI president Nitin Kuncolienkar. The GCCI has expressed the fear that in the absence of a sound policy, the SEZ route may be used by some unscrupulous parties to create land banks for speculative purposes.

Source: The Hindu