News Articles
Digambar directs CS to prepare report on SEZs
BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 8 — Bowing to mounting public pressure, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Saturday said work on SEZs in Verna and Keri have stopped, even as he directed Chief Secretary J P Singh to prepare a White Paper on all the zones.
Addressing a press conference, Kamat said that the White Paper, which will cover all aspects of SEZs, would be ready by Wednesday, December 12. After studying the White Paper, the Cabinet will take an appropriate decision on the issue, he stated.
“The companies at Verna and Keri have also informed me that they will not start work till the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure decides on the SEZs,” Kamat disclosed.
He informed that the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure has now decided that any proposal to allot land by a government corporation or department will have to be placed before the committee.
Speaking on the IT Habitat at Dona Paula, the CM said, “The contractor came to me and told me that work at the habitat has been stopped. Now, we will talk to the Taleigao MLA, village panchayat, NGOs and other stakeholders to clear their doubts about the project.”
The CM said prima facie no one was opposed to the project, “but people do have some apprehensions that need to be cleared”.
PEACE RALLY: Meanwhile, Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate said that notwithstanding the decision of the government, locals would march to the IT Habitat at Dona Paula on Sunday in a peace rally to oppose the project.
“All families affected by the project will march to the plateau to express their opposition,” he mentioned.
Answering a question on the mob rampage at the habitat site, the MLA said, “It was an outcome of frustration and the same happened in Keri too.”
Meanwhile, in view of the morcha between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm, besides a corner meeting at Dona Paula thereafter, the traffic cell has made appropriate arrangements for the smooth flow of traffic.
A press note issued by the SP (Traffic) AV Deshpande, states that when the crowd gathers near the Taleigao church, the traffic, if required, will be diverted near Monserrate’s residence and near Syndicate Bank, Caranzalem.
During the rally — from Taleigao Church Square to IT Habitat — the vehicles proceeding via University-NIO will be diverted at AIR, through Vasudha Colony, Bambolim.
The vehicles proceeding towards University-GMC, Bambolim, will be diverted opposite Cidade de Goa via Nagalli Hills.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Mihir Vardhan in a press release stated that an order under Section 144 of the CrPC has been issued restraining the public from gathering in and around the IT Habitat extending to a distance of 3 metres from the periphery.
