Goa CM to contact MOC on SEZ denotification controversy

Panaji, Jun 9 (UNI) Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today reiterated his commitment to abiding by the peoples' decision in respect of any issue including scrapping of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Goa, even as the Centre had recently expressed its inability to denotify three SEZs at the request of the State.

''I will take up the issue with the Union Ministry of Commerce, if necessary, for denotification of the three SEZs as demanded by the public. I had already conveyed our government's resolve against the notified SEZs to the Centre,'' he told mediapersons here.

He said the government had earlier taken ''firm stand'' on the issue and fully backed the popular demand against the notified SEZs. There was no going back on the issue, he said.

Mr Kamat said the government had decided to open ''National Security and Depository Services Limited'', as advised by the Centre, for keeping records of various transactions including that of pensioners.

He said the Cabinet today approved a proposal to transfer film finance schemes, now under the Department of Information and Publicity to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) on film producers's demand forthwith.

Meanwhile, the Captain of Ports had initiated measures to tow away the drifted transhipper, ''Andheri Nagri'', with the help of two tugs from Caranzalem shore following heavy winds and rains in the Arabian Sea, he said.

The government was also examining all legal implications of granting more licenses for off-shore casinos in future. At present, two casionos were running their operations and several applications for licences pending.

The govenment would abide by its earlier decision to sanction licenses to only five casions in toto, though applications were in plenty.

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