News Articles
I will not favour SEZs if land utilised for real estates: MP
BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 11 - South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has said that he will not favour either the Special Economic Zones or the IT Parks if the allotted land is proposed to be utilised for real estate development.
âI had initially favoured 2-3 SEZs for Goa to tackle the employment problem. But, if these SEZs mean real estate development or developing the plots for housing than I am opposed to SEZsâ, he asserted during an informal chat with newsmen in the District Collectorate here this morning after having a secret meeting with Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat in the Ministerâs Chamber.
Sardinha, however, was quick to say that minimum two SEZs, but minus real estate development, would have solved the unemployment problem facing the Goan youth, adding that the government is now reconsidering the entire gamut of issues concerning the SEZs in Goa. âWe donât want too much of employment. SEZs should cater to Goan unemployed youth and not to import the youth from outside
Saying that Goa had missed the IT bus and that the IT industry should have come to Goa long ago, the MP said that Goans are working in Hyderabad, Bangalore in IT industries and the government want them back in Goa to work in the State.
Asked whether thereâs any threat to the Congress Government headed by Digambar Kamat on the SEZ issue, Sardinha, who is the GPCC President, said âthe government is stable. The whole party is behind Digambar Kamat to provide a good and stable government to the people of Goaâ.
But, when newsmen drew his attention to the clamour for change in certain quarters, the GPCC President said, âwe have heard about the clamour only in the media. The virus is only in the airâ.
Replying to a question on the Mhadei water dispute issue with Karnataka, the South Goa MP said the matter was recently raised by the Rajya Sabha MP in Parliament, adding that he too would raise the issue in the Lok Sabha to protect Goaâs interests.
Asked whether he or Shantaram Naik would be accommodated in the Union Council of Ministers, Sardinha shot back âGoa should ultimately benefit whether itâs Shantaram or Sardinhaâ.
He said he would accord priority to all fields in respect of utilisation of funds under the MPLAD scheme.
