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Mathany demands scrapping of all SEZs

NT News Service

Mapusa, Dec 11 The convenor of the Goa Movement against SEZs, Mr Mathany Saldanha has demanded that all SEZs be scrapped immediately failing which there would be great unrest among the Goan people that would prove costly to the government. Mr Saldanha was speaking at a largely attended public meeting at Mapusa this evening.Stating that SEZs were nothing but an attempt to destroy Goa by bringing a large influx of outsiders, Mr Saldanha felt that Goa would not remain Goa in such case. “The present move to have 18 SEZs in Goa is just not practically feasible. The state stands to benefit in no way from the proposed SEZs and on the contrary, there are some individuals who have a high stake in the allotment of land for SEZs and in doing so were hell-bent on destroying Goa. These elements must be stopped and therefore it is high time that each of us rise to the occasion and preserve the land for the future generation,” said Mr Saldanha.

Terming the SEZs as special exploitative zones, Mr Saldanha felt that it would be in the interest of the aam aadmi if all the proposed SEZs are scrapped and denotified immediately. He urged the crowd to turn up for the major rally that has been planned on the December 18 at Panaji. The BJP state president, Mr Shripad Naik also flayed the government for pursuing the 18 SEZs when the infrastructure of the state was not enough to cope with the present demand. He lashed out at those who were promoting the IT parks , recreation parks and all such thingsunder the guise of the SEZ.

Mr Naik felt that the BJP had in mind to protect the interests of the state and as such had decided to come in large numbers to support this ongoing agitation against SEZ as these would completely destroy Goa. The Opposition leader, Mr Manohar Parrikar pointing out that Goa having 15 lakh population and an area of just 3,700 kilometres, there was no scope for SEZ s and if these SEZs would be permitted, then all the resources would be overburdened besides garbage would also be another problem.

Saying that this was a large scale loot and plunder of Goan land, Mr Parrikar pooh- poohed statements that these SEZs would benefit Goa saying that these stood to benefit only a few selective people who were building a treasure war chest.

“At this rate what sort of development are we pursuing when land is being usurped on the pretext of SEZ. The problem has become serious in Dona Paula and Keri where people have begun to take to the streets, and soon all of Goa will be on the street if these proposed SEZs are not immediately scrapped. We have to be vigilant, no Goans will get jobs in these SEZs , that is rest assured. However, what is sure is that Goans will soon become extinct. If Goa having a very small area will be converted into 18 SEZ’s then surely the destruction of Goa is certain,” he said.

The Mandrem MLA, Mr Laxmikant Pasekar opposed the SEZs that were being planned at Pernem and Mandrem. Mr Parsekar said that Pernem needed to be developed likewise basic infrastructure also needed to be improved on beaches, provisions for SEZs were however definitely not welcomed when Goa as it is is already getting congested with the migrants that are coming in today and the large vehicles that are plying on the roads. Among others who also spoke on the occasion included MLA’s Mr Francis D’Souza, Mr Dillip Parulekar, Mr Dayanand Mandrekar , other personalities including Mr Floriano Lobo, Mr Upendra Gaonkar, Mr Aires Rodrigues and others. Among those also present were Mr Oscar D’souza, Pernem MLA Mr Sopte, Mr Amol Navelcar Mr Milind Anvekar, Mr Siddhanath Buyao and Mr Rohan Kavlekar. Mr Ashish Shirodkar compered.

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Mathany demands scrapping of all SEZs

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