News from Rubiya Shaikh
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (CN)

Panaji, Aug 27: Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat said that the centre has the power to denotify the special economic zones (SEZs), if they are not operational within the stipulated period of time.

'During my talks with union commerce minister Kamal Nath, I was informed that SEZ projects should be completed within a particular time or else the centre can denotify them,' Kamat told the state legislative assembly on Tuesday, August 26.

The chief minister said that the state government's stand on SEZs is very clear and there is no change in it. Goa has scrapped its SEZs and three zones are pending denotification. In all, seven SEZ developers have filed cases in the high court against the state government-run Goa Industrial Development Corporation's (GIDC) move to issue show cause notices to those seeking to revoke the allotted land.

Earlier, Manohar Parrikar, the leader of the opposition, participating in the discussion on the floor, had alleged that the government was not serious about getting rid of SEZs. He had said that he does not doubt a government institution but felt that it is not serious about implementation.

Replying to the contention, the chief minister said there will be no laxity in defending the cases against SEZs in the court. 'We will engage the best lawyers in the country,' he said. The chief minister added that he would examine the possibility as to whether the GIDC can recover the land from SEZ developers under the lease agreement.