Team Herald
MARGAO: Goenchea Ramponkaracho Ekvott (GRE) Joint Secretary Olencio Simoes came down heavily on the government for proposing to reach a compromise with the promoters of Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
It is public knowledge that the government has agreed on a ‘compromise cum settlement’ of SEZ land currently in litigation before the Supreme Court.
The government reportedly wants to reach a compromise-cum- settlement with Cipla’s Meditab Specialties, K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd and Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd.
Olencio warned the government that, “Making any settlement will force the people of Goa to come on streets, the same way the people of Goa came out in unison against SEZs in the year 2010.”
“The very same party, which was a part of a State wide agitation when they were in the opposition, is now acting like an agent of the SEZ promoters,” he said.
“The High Court, in its 2010 judgment recommended a judicial probe (into the allotment of land to SEZ promoters) and also asserted that no land in Goa should be given to the seven promoters, as they violated the entire process of land allocation,” he said and asked, “So, our question remains as to how could the BJP government that was all for throwing out SEZs in Goa, got into a compromise cum settlement with the promoters?”
“It has been proved time and again by CAG that GIDC is a cesspool of corruption. Why is the Government of Goa not investigating into the decisions and activities of GIDC, as they appear to be neither functioning in a transparent manner nor according to the rules? Is it because like the former Congress government, the BJP government too is corroding the State of Goa with corruption?” questioned Olencio.
Olencio further said that it is indeed shameful that the government plans to illegally unlock 36.4 lakh square meters of SEZ land by negotiating outside the court.
“This is completely illegal and only a way of supporting the rich and the mighty by brazenly bypassing and violating all rules and regulations,” he alleged.
Olencio also said the GIDC had given concessions to the SEZ allottees by removing the clause from the lease deed, to enable revision of the annual lease rent thereby a lower rate resulting in a loss of Rs 36.89 crore.
He said that any compromise-cum-settlement with the SEZ promoters is an insult to Mathanhy Saldanha who was convenor of the Goa’s Movement Against SEZs, as he was against any form of settlement which was attempted by then Congress government also.
Olencio claimed that the “government is trying to protect the guilty companies and politicians involved in this mega scam by compromising with the SEZ promotors.”
He said the notified SEZ developers should take a cue from Ratan Tata and honourably quit Goa once and for all as he had done in West Bengal, where the Tatas had exited from the State after the Singur row and now moved to Gujarat for its Nano plant.
