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If Betul Food Park becomes SEZ I will oppose the project: Kavlekar

NT News Service
Quepem, Dec 3 Will the Food Processing Park proposed to be set up at Betul come up as a SEZ? Quepem MLA and Goa Industrial Developemnt Corporation (GIDC) chairman Mr Chandrakant Kavlekar’s exclusive comments to ‘The Navhind Times’ has given rise to this million dollar question. Kavlekar emphatically denies that the Food Park would be a SEZ. What’s more, the GIDC chairman was candid enough to come on record that he would lead the people in their agitation against the Food Park if any attempt is ever made to make it a Special Economic Zone.

In a tete-e-tete with our correspondent Govind Kamat Maad, Mr Kavlekar dwelt at length on the issue. Here are some excerpts.

NT – The opposition towards the Food Park, which is being seen as your pet project, is gaining momentum. Mr Prakash Velip (the former minister) is even gunning for your head over the issue. Your comments?

Kavlekar : First of all, let me clarify that Food Park and SEZ are two separate entities or concepts. I don’t know from where they got this fanciful idea that the Food Park is going to be a SEZ. In fact, when the land was acquired for the Food Park, it was done precisely with that intent – for setting up a Food Park cum Industrial Estate. The idea was that if fewer companies came forward to set up food processing industries, then other type of industries could also be considered. But there was - and I emphasize - there is still no proposal, whatsoever, to set up a SEZ.

NT: But what makes you harp on the Food Park so vehemently? What is …..

Kavlekar: Let me make it very clear – however much the opposition tries to whip up passions against the Food Park, I will see to it that the project sees the light of the day. It is the assurance that I had given to my voters and the people of my constituency during the first time I contested the assembly elections – that I would strive to bring an industrial estate in Quepem in bid to wipe out unemployment from Quepem. As we had to sit in Opposition after I won the elections for the first time, I was unable to do much on that front. It was only during the last two years, when our party took the reins of power, that the work on Food Park, the process of land acquisition etc was initiated.

NT: But why only Food Park…why not some other industry?

Kavlekar: There were two reasons why we zeroed in on the Food Park. One, in Quepem constituency, the populace here dominantly belongs to the farming community, with some people even owning small agricultural land holdings. Once food processing units set shop here, the farmers would be able to get a ready market to sell their agricultural produce. This will certainly provide a boost to the agrarian activities in Quepem and surrounding areas like Cancacona, Sanguem, Sanvordem etc thus helping to raise the living standards of the rural poor. Two, food processing units would require an army of skilled, semi skilled and unskilled labourers to work in various departments. Unemployment is a major problem that has been grappling Quepem since long. I sincerely believe that setting up of Food Park will do away with this problem, to a large extent.

NT: But given that most of the unemployed youths in rural areas are unskilled, don’t you visualize dim prospects for them in such food processing units where skilled personnel will be required?

Kavlekar: We have taken care of that aspect too. In fact the GIDC has done a detailed feasibility study of the project before going ahead with it. The consultancy firm that was engaged to do the feasibility study has suggested setting up of counseling and training cells in every manufacturing unit to enable prospective employees to gain requisite skills for the respective jobs. Accordingly, we have made it mandatory for all the firms interested in setting up units in the Food Park to have training cells in their premises to impart the necessary skills to the locals applying for the jobs there. All these things will be in place before the Food Park actually begins its operations.

NT: But how do plan to win over the locals who are opposing the project?

Kavlekar: There is no absolutely no opposition from the locals. It is only the former minister Mr Prakash Velip who is instigating the people to rise against the project. In fact Mr Velip should have lent support to the project as people from Quepem would immensely benefit from it. Besides, the project would put an end to the nauseating fish drying activities that are currently taking place at the site. The whole area stinks making life miserable for the people living in the neighbourhood. The project is being welcomed by the locals there. Besides, all the panchayats of Quepem have lent support to the project by adopting resolutions…the Quepem municipality is in favour of the project…where is the opposition?

NT: The Opposition primarily stems from the belief that the Food Park will be set up as SEZ.

Kavlekar: That’s a very false notion.

NT: Tell me, if any attempt is ever made to make Food Park an SEZ, what would be your stand? Would you still support the project?

Kavlekar: Definitely not. If anything of that sort happens, I will lead the locals to agitate against the SEZ. Take my word. But as of now, I’m all for the project. The Food Park will come up at the proposed location at all costs.

NT: What is your personal opinion with regards to the SEZs? Do you think Goa needs SEZs?

Kavlekar: As far as the SEZs are concerned, the government has already constituted a committee to examine the issue. I will go with whatever decision the government takes after the review.