No more SEZs: Digambar
PTI
(Panaji)
14 November 2007
Goa Chief Minister Digamber
Kamat today said there will be no more special economic zones (SEZs) in the state.
Under
constant pressure from anti-SEZ groups including alliance partner Nationalist
Congress Party and local Church, Kamat said the government will also review those
SEZs which have already been approved.
"There are seven SEZs approved
while applications for eight more are pending at different levels. We have kept
these eight on hold while we will examine the seven SEZs considering the objections
raised by certain section," Kamat told reporters here.
As per official
information available through right to information, there are 16 SEZs planned
in this coastal state.
"Development work has already started on two
SEZs," Kamat conceded adding, he will have to study all the angles before
deciding on scrapping seven SEZs.
"They can take us to court... I need
time to decide," he said.
The Chief Minister said during his recent
Delhi visit, Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had assured not to clear the eight
more projects till the local government wanted it.
The Kamat-led government
is constantly under pressure on SEZ issue with main opposition BJP racking it
up as a major plank.
What seems to have worsened chief minister's worry
is the strong opposition expressed by NCP to the SEZs. Goa catholic church too
had objected to SEZs in the state.
Two organisations -- SEZ Virodhi Manch
and people's movement against SEZ -- have dished out different deadlines for the
state government to scrap SEZs and SEZ police or face public agitation.
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