80 per cent job reservation for locals at SEZs in Goa: Falerio

Panaji, Jan 24 (UNI) Goa Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro today said the state government will demand 80 per cent reservation for local people in all the industries coming up under the scheme of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) cleared by the Centre.

''If any industry in the SEZs fails to observe this stipulation, the government would withdraw the registration of the defaulting industry. Reservation to the ''sons of the soil'' was a pre-condition to all the industries in this island state,'' he asserted.

''The Centre has so far approved setting up of four SEZs here, for which land has been duly allocated. Though the SEZs rules do not have any provisions for reservation, the state would stand by its decision,'' he added.

Intervening, Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane said the Centre was reviewing all the provisions related to sanctioning of fresh SEZs in the country.

''These are Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd for a pharma park at Keri-Ponda, K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd for Multipurpose Industrial service park at Verna, Paradigh Logistics and distributors Pvt Limited for IT/ITES park at Verna and Peninsula Pharma Resewrch Centre Pvt Ltd for an R&D Centre/Biotechnology park/SEZ at Sancole in Mormugao taluka,'' he said.

UNI