from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jul 10: Goa villagers have approached the Goa bench of Bombay high court appealing against the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) land allotment by state government-run Goa Industrial development Corporation (GIDC).

The villagers, in their petition in the court, have termed the land allotment as, 'fraudulent'. 

The petition mostly concerns three notified SEZs – Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, K Raheja and Peninsula Pharma Research Pvt Ltd – as the villagers from the areas where these industrial enclaves are planned have approached the judiciary.

The crucial SEZ issue is debated in the state with Digamber Kamat-led government taking anti-SEZ stand bowing to the pressures of the masses.

The villagers from Keri, Sancoale and Verna, have filed the petition challenging GSIDC's decision to allot land to these SEZs in their villages, on 95-year-lease basis.

The petition has also questioned land allotment in seven SEZs – including these three.

The villagers have contended that the land was allotted without involving public in the land allotment process. "In some cases, the land was allotted as quickly as within seven days of the application," Colin Gonsalves, a lawyer representing villagers, stated.

The GIDC which faced severe criticism for allotment of the land has already issued show cause notice to all the seven SEZ promoters.

GIDC officials stated that they have decided to revoke the land allotment acting on the directives of the government. "We have issued show-cause notices and final step to revoke the land will be decision only by board of directors which will meet soon," a senior official stated.