Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Margao, January 5, 2008: Welcoming the assurance of the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, to review all the SEZs in the State, Curtorim MLA, Mr Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco called upon the Goans to rally behind the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and strengthen his hands in the cause of scraping all the SEZs.

It appears that the Union Commerce Secretary, Mr Gopal Pillai acted in haste, while making his unfounded statement, without understanding that SEZs have compromised the interests of Goa and Goans, the Curtorim MLA said.

“If the allotment of land to the notified SEZs was based on misrepresentation of facts and/or fraud, all deeds and transactions performed in respect of the notified SEZs can be rendered illegal, null and void, ab initio,” the Mr Lourenco stated.

Mr Pillai should bear in mind that public outcry against SEZs in the State was basically due to apprehension in the minds of Goans that SEZs are tools in the hands of unscrupulous elements, the Curtorim legislator charged.

These elements facilitate certain parties from outside State to grab huge tracts of Goan land for their self-aggrandisement and to the detriment of the locals, he added.

Taking potshots at former Curtorim MLA, Mr Lourenco said he was happy to learn that sense has finally dawned on South Goa MP, Mr Francisco Sardinha, who has retracted his earlier stand and has now endorsed that all SEZs should be withdrawn from the State.

He sought to remind that in the recent South Goa parliamentary election campaign, Mr Sardinha first supported two SEZs for Goa and after getting elected he made a case for three SEZs.

He further said that the South Goa MP had similarly promised to enact a legislation to make bull-fights lawful in Goa and wondered if the MP was serious or just used as a ploy to garner votes.

“If not the MP needs to clarify his position vis-à-vis the legislation on bull-fights,” the Curtorim MLA said.

Source: The Navhind Times