Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 23, 2007: The NGO, Goa’s Movement Against SEZ today held a day-long sit-in hunger strike at the Panaji jetty demanding immediate scrapping of all 18 SEZs in Goa.

The GMAS convenor Mr Mathany Saldanha, addressing press conference, said GMAS will continue its struggle until its demands are fulfilled. He also called upon the people of Goa and its well-wishers all over the world to write to the government of India and to the chief minister of Goa opposing the anti-people SEZ projects in Goa.

Mr Saldanha warned the government that people might lose patience and resort to violence if SEZs are not scrapped. “We don’t want to make this another Nandigram. Basically, we are law-abiding and literate citizens who can’t be fooled anymore,” he said.

Mr Saldanha said the government claims it will provide 80 per cent of the 9-lakh jobs for local people, which means about 7-lakh jobs. “Where will the government find these locals when the unemployed are only about 80,000 in Goa? The government must stop fooling and bluffing the people of Goa,” he said.

He also said the 9-lakh jobs will create an influx of about 30-lakh migrants, leading to further dilution and loss of Goa’s identity and culture. Besides, this influx will lead to proliferation of slums and increase in crime, theft and garbage. Mr Saldanha also said the influx will add to the strain on the existing infrastructure.

They also carried placards some of which read, “Don’t sell Goa, preserve it for future generations’’ and “SEZ means more slums, more garbage, more crime”.

Noted Goan singer Hema Sardesai joined today’s protest in the morning. The protest was also addressed by North Goa member of Parliament, Mr Shripad Naik, the Mapusa BJP MLA Mr Francis D’Souza, Ms Nirmala Sawant (Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan), Mr Upendra Gaonkar (Shiv Sena), Fr Lino Florindo (Pilar Society), Fr Bismark Dias, Mr Prajal Sakhardande (Goa Heritage Cell), Dr Dhume (Suraj Party), Mr Agnelo Rodrigues (Goemchea Ramponkaracho Ekvott) and others.

Meanwhile, The Goa Bachao Abhiyan has urged the government to order an immediate freeze on large scale land acquisitions and all SEZs proposed to be set up in Goa, until the Task Force set up for Regional Plan 2021 completes its job.

In a recent communiqué to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, the GBA stated that it is deeply disturbed by the way the government is proceeding to acquire large tracts of land in the name of “development” in this tiny state of Goa.

The GBA letter stated, “You are aware that land is a finite resource and there is a need to consider the fine balance between Goa’s natural landscape and the needs of its people. The environment of Goa gives its residents a unique quality of life and also attracts tourists from far and wide. We understand that Goa needs industry to provide for the livelihood of its people. But the haste in which land is being acquired and the way the same is proposed to be utilized, with lack of proper studies and ground realities, only shows that it is not really for planned development but is turning out to be a “huge land grab” in the name of development.’’

The GBA stated that the government has formed the “Task Force” to guide and formulate the new Regional Plan for Goa. ‘’In order to make this process transparent and meaningful, it is imperative that the government order an immediate freeze on large scale land acquisitions and all SEZs proposed to be set up in Goa, until the Task Force completes the job it is entrusted with. If these acquisitions take place even before the Regional Plan 2021 is finalised, it will amount to a fait accompli rather than planning and will render the work of the Task Force infructuous. Land acquisitions of urgent nature like for road widening etc. can however be permitted,’’ the GBA letter stated.

Source: The Navhind Times