GMAS demands government declare policy of SEZs as 'nullified'

Panaji, Apr 28 (UNI) Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) today demanded the government immediately declare the policy of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state as 'nullified' and cancel three notified SEZs along with all others during the meeting of the Board of Approval (BOA), SEZs of Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to be held New Delhi on April 30.

GMAS convenor Mathanly Saldanha, speaking to mediapersons here, said he had met state Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who had assured him that he would cancel all the SEZs in the state as they were not in its interests.

''We are confident that the Chief Minister will stand firm on his stance and he will be getting the best legal counsel to protect the interests of the people and get the SEZ menace out of Goa,'' he said.

Mr Saldanha said GMAS had also learnt that the land where Panchbhoomi plans to establish its SEZ was owned by the Communbidade and that was also a forest land. GMAS was not concerned whether the promoters of SEZs Goans or not. The demand for cancellation of SEZs in Goa was based on the principle that it was not in the interests of the people and the state to allow SEZs. There was enough documentary evidence to suggest that all political parties as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the coalition government, had endorsed that SEZs were not wanted in the state for reasons now known to all, he added.

Mr Saldanha said his body would oppose all SEZs, including the notified ones, in Goa tooth and nail and any attempt by the vested interests to get its way through would be resisted.

GMAS also demanded a thorough enquiry by the government into all tenanted lands, which have been converted or surreptitiously transferred in the name of new tenants, all over the state, in order to bring to book all tenants for misuing the land to the Tiller act.

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