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Bio-tech SEZ at Sancoale faces stiff opposition from locals
BY HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, NOV 30 – NGOs and Sancoalkars in particular raised their voice against the proposed ‘Peninsula Life Science Center, a bio-tech SEZ at Sancoale in a meeting called by SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM) at Fr Joseph Vaz Sanctuary, late Thursday evening.
The on-going agitation against SEZ is gaining momentum each day and Sancoale is no exception to it, where they proved their opposition by attending a meeting in large numbers, which was later joined by around 200 villagers from Keri-Ponda, who had specially come to garner their support against the proposed SEZ at Sancoale.
Convener of Jagrut Goem, Arvind Bhatikar in the meeting, exposing the government’s proposed Research and Development (RND) bio-tech SEZ claimed that it would generate 25,000 employment opportunities, whereas if all the RND Universities of India are brought together at one place such a huge number for employment is not possible and that even the alleged land admeasuring around 2.04 lakh sq mts was not required for the project.
He further termed the bio-tech SEZ as “Sancoale Exploitation Zone”.
Bhatikar further dared the government that if Union government can keep the nuclear deal on hold, and if an affidavit filed in Supreme Court on Ram Setu can be recalled, then why not the two notified SEZs in Keri and Sancoale be denotified?
GBA member Praveen Sabnis exposing elected representatives and government departments alleged of how they have involved themselves in land scams by allotting large numbers of Goan land to SEZ developers.
Dr Francisco Colaco while recollecting the days of the father of opinion poll Dr Jack de Sequeira, who fought against Maharashtra for the merger of Goa, said things like RP2011 and SEZ are the weapons of mass destruction and one cannot even think what would happen in future if these SEZs are implemented.
SVM experts explained in detail, information of SEZ through their speeches, slid show, documentary films.
Others who spoke at the meeting were Fr Mevric Fernandes of Council for Social Justice and Peace, Fr Eremito Rebello, Charles Fernandes, panch of Sancoale, Simon Carvalho, Dilesh Hajare, Swati Kerkar (both from Keri) Franky Monteiro, Tulshidas Naik, Damodar Naik, Ramkrishna Jalmi, Dr Jalmi and other prominent members of SVM.
Our Margao reporter adds: The SEZ Virodhi Manch has said that Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho should lead from the front or even be prepared to resign to ensure that the will of his constituents is implemented and the SEZ scrapped from Sancoale.
Speaking at a public meeting, Aravind Bhatikar said the sincerity and commitment of an MLA can be judged by his actions. “Therefore, if Godinho was truly with his people on the SEZ issue, than he should lead from the front to scrap the SEZ proposed at Sancoale”, Bhatikar said.
Disagreeing with the Cortalim MLA’s statement that withdrawing notified SEZs may have legal implications, Bhatikar pointed out that if RP2011 could be withdrawn after being notified, so can SEZ.
The SEZ policy, he pointed out, was imposed clandestinely upon Goa, with even the then deputy Chief Minister, Dr Wilfred de Souza, publicly stating that he was not consulted and no Cabinet discussion had bee held. “Therefore, there was strong grounds for the government to withdraw the SEZs for Goa if it had the political will”, he added.
