Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (mb)
from special correspondent

Panaji, Dec 30: Goa government will spell out its stand on the controversial special economic zone issue that has rocked this coastal state in the first week of next year.

"I will try to speak my mind on the issue on January two or January three," Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat who has been going through turbulent times over the SEZ issue, stated.

Kamat has been facing trouble from all around on the issue with his own Congress party, alliance partners like Nationalist Congress party (NCP) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) besides the NGOs opposing these exclusive economic zones in the state.

State Congress president Fransisco Sardinha is the latest in the line to raise a banner of protest against the SEZs. Sardinha's stand is little different from his earlier vision of allowing three SEZs in the state.

"I can't take any decision till I consult my alliance partners, my own party and committees which are studying the matter," the CM said.

He said that the task force (constituted to form the regional plan 2017 for the state) and cabinet committee on infrastructure would be consulted before arriving at any decision. "I have started the consultations," Kamat said replying to a question.

Meanwhile, indications are clear that the state government is waiting to scrap all the seven approved SEZs, which were expected to bring in 2,42,000 direct jobs in the next five years.

The white paper prepared by the state bureaucracy on the SEZs in Goa has shown that investment of Rs 4714.04 was envisaged through these seven projects over next five years in the state.

The paper submitted by state chief secretary J P Singh to the chief minister, allays fears that the SEZs would trigger large scale migration in the state. "Some of the developers will have tie up with institutes like NIIT, NIFT and APTECH for upgradation of the skills of local people to get jobs in these units.

"In addition, the ancillary indirect jobs likely to be created are expected to be in the ratio of 5/7:1 in the service sector primarily. These are likely to be manned by persons from the state," the white paper reads.

The state government has said that the functioning of units in the SEZ is subject to existing laws on environment and government of Goa will have to ensure that the requirements of environmental laws are met fully by the units in the SEZ to preserve the serenity of our beautiful state.

Importantly, the government has clarified that in Goa, land classified for industrial use will be allowed for setting up SEZs. "There will be no loss to agricultural production," the white paper specially mentions.

Stating that the panchayats will also be benefited with the SEZs, the paper reads,``Industrial development corporation will continue to pass on 85 per cent of house tax and 90 per cent of construction licence fees to the local panchayat as is being done for the Industrial estates.''