from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jun 3: The Congress party in the state has stood firm with the local government in its decision to denotify all the three notified Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
 
"We are with the government in their decision to denotify the three SEZs which are already approved and notified. The party feels that the state government can take its stand by taking the legal opinion," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Fransisco Sardinha said briefing presspersons here on Tuesday June 3.
 
Union government in its letter to the state government has said that there is no provision to denotify three Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which are approved and notified.
 
Sardinha, who stood by Digamber Kamat-led government, said that SEZs should not be allowed in the state, if people do not want them.
 
He said that the party is firmly with the chief minister in his endeavour to denotify three SEZs.
 
Congress' stand comes in contradiction to its earlier view wherein Sardinha had said that the state can have two to three SEZs.
 
The GPCC, however, said that not a single SEZ should be allowed in the state as people here are opposed to these industrial enclaves.
 
The state government under immense public and political pressure had decided to scrap 12 SEZs on December 31 last year, which were at different stages of approval and notification while three were referred to the union board of approval under commerce ministry to take final stand.
 
The state government is in piquant situation over the issue of notified SEZs which include -- 304 acres spread Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd (pharma), Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd, 20.36 hactares (R&D centre biotech park) and K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, 107.17 hectares (IT/ITES).
 
"The state government including chief minister Digamber Kamat will meet and take appropriate decision on the issue. We will take formal stand within couple of days," Singh said on Monday June 2.
 
Goa's anti-SEZ sentiments gained much publicity during the new year celebrations last year when anti-SEZ protestors threatened to disrupt celebrations asking tourists to stay away from the state.
 
This had led to massive cut down on the tourist inflow in this state which receives 24 lac tourists annually and is chock-a-block on new year eve.
 
The state government faced a jolt when in January, this year, itself when union commerce secretary Gopal Pillai had said that state government has no power to scrap notified SEZs.
 
The issue was also raised by state CM with union commerce minister Kamal Nath who had assured all possible support for the state.