News Articles

Works of SEZs at Keri, Verna stopped

NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, Dec 8 Bowing to public pressure, the ongoing works of the special economic zones at Keri and Verna have been stopped and will not resume until the cabinet committee appointed by the government has reviewed the entire SEZ policy for Goa. The review will take about two months.

Announcing this at a press conference today, the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat said the companies at both places, Keri and Verna, yesterday informed the government that they have voluntarily stopped the works and will not resume it until the cabinet committee reviews the SEZ policy. Members of the cabinet committee, who were present for the press conference today, included the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik, the PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, the Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza and the Chief Secretary, Mr J P Singh.

Apparently relieved at the decision of the companies to stop work at Keri and Verna, the Chief Minister said this fulfilled the main demand of many organisations, which demanded stoppage of work until government studies the SEZ situation in Goa. The other decision which the cabinet committee took at its meeting today, was that any allotment of government land in future done by any corporation or government department shall be placed before the cabinet committee for its approval.

Mr Kamat said that earlier the cabinet had decided that the cabinet committee will study the SEZ issue and after deliberations will come to a conclusion. Accordingly, the Chief Secretary was asked to prepare a white paper on the SEZ scenario in Goa. The white paper is under preparation and will be ready by Wednesday, December 12, 2007, Mr Kamat said. Once the white paper is ready, the cabinet committee will meet the people and may visit one or two functional SEZs in the country to study the subject. But Mr Kamat categorically assured that work on SEZs will not start for at least the next two months, until the SEZ policy has been reviewed in totality in Goa.

In another development, the government today ordered a magisterial inquiry into yesterday’s law-and-order problem at Dona Paula wherein people damaged the infrastructure and burnt cars.

When asked about the IT Habitat at Dona Paula and the recent upheaval there, Mr Kamat said the contractor at Dona Paula has also informed that he has stopped the work there. Mr Kamat said the government will start a dialogue with the people of Taleigao, the Taleigao MLA and all stakeholders. The government will make presentations to the people explaining everything. He said no one is opposed to the IT industry in-principle. But people do have apprehensions about supply of power to the IT habitats.

“Power is a traded commodity today. It is available in the open market. The companies may buy it from outside,’’ he said.

From the Discussion Forum

crooks governing Goa Sep 16, 08 | viriato_fernandes

TRUE PATRIOTISM Oct 18, 08 | sachinbhat

Incorporate Roman Konkani Script Sep 27, 08 | ARWIN

Garbage disposal/collection system Jan 20, 08 | sugarnspice

CALL TO ACTION – Goa’s Identity. Mar 20, 08 | ARWIN