from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Feb 27: The anti-special economic zone (SEZ) groups on Wednesday February 27 mounted pressure on the state government warning that they would be forced to revive their agitation, if state government fails to get SEZs cancelled.

"We will be forced to launch second phase of agitation, if the state government fails to get all SEZs including the three notified ones, cancelled immediately," Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) convenor Mathany Saldanha stated.

The GMAS had earlier initiated massive public agitation against SEZs in the state and had requested the tourists to leave the state on new year's eve warning of violent agitation. The new year tourism season was affected with the call.

The state government, later, on new year's eve, had scrapped all the 12 approved SEZs while recommending denotification of three.

Raising suspicions on the board of approval's stand on canceling Goa SEZs, the GMAS has said that the BoA had contradicted the statement of union commerce ministry that SEZs would not be imposed on the state and more so when the government does not want it.

BoA recently issued show-cause-notices to 12 SEZs asking as why the approval granted to them should not be withdrawn stating that the move was in line with the principle of natural justice. 

The board, however, had deferred the decision on denotifying the three notified SEZs giving its promoters a new lease of life.

Saldanha said that the BoA's decision on 12 SEZs and the move seeking consultation with the state government on three notified ones smacked of double standards.

"If BoA takes any decision contrary to the will of the people, GMAS will be forced to construe that the BoA and union commerce ministry are involved in underhand dealings in connivance with the state government to approve SEZs," Saldanha, former tourism minister, said.