SEZ Virodhi Manch stages silent protest against Goa government

Panaji, Aug 26 (UNI) More than 80 activists of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM), holding placards, posters and banners, staged a silent demonstration at the Mandovi Bridge in the city, protesting the ''recalcitrant attitude of the state government in withdrawing the SEZ policy''.

''This inaction of the government vindicates that it is not functioning in the interests of the people, but facilitating backdoor entry to the SEZs,'' SVM convenor Charles Fernandes said.

The Government, he said, had not yet issued fresh show cause notices to the SEZ promoters, though it assured the public when it voluntarily withdrew the stop work orders (to the concerned SEZ promoters), in the High Court, due to technical snags.

''The Government had not registered cases against the Goa Industries Development Corporation officials in the fraudulent allotment of land to SEZ promoters. On the contrary, when people of the affected villagers went to peacefully stop the work at the Raheja SEZ site in Verna, the police filed false cases against innocent villagers,'' he said.

''The SVM reiterates its demand of CBI inquiry into the irregularities of the entire land allotment procedure, including possible irregular draft, besides immediate withdrawal/de-notification of SEZ policy and issuing of show cause notices to SEZ promoters to stop work,'' he said.

The Manch also sought launching of penal action against SEZ promoters, who had sunk bore wells without any permission and disconnection of supply of power to the SEZ at Kerim, besides preventing all Private Power Operators from supplying electricity to illegal industries, the demonstrators said.

The SVM has threatened that it will continue its struggle ''till the very end to ensure that the government does not compromise the interests of the people who are committed to preventing the fraudulent SEZs from destroying Goa.'' UNI BM RN MIR VC2005