Centre not to impose SEZ on Goa

NEW DELHI: Reversing the stance taken by his secretary, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday assured Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat that Centre will not impose any special economic zone on the state and is willing to review even those projects that have been notified.

Sticking to his gun for scrapping all the SEZs in the Congress-ruled state, Kamat had a series of meetings with union ministers, including Nath, and senior party leaders to press for endorsement of the decision taken by his government.

A day after Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai virtually rejected Goa Government's decision saying notified SEZs could not be scrapped, Nath said Centre could review all zones.

Kamat later told reporters at the Congress headquarters: "Goan people do not want SEZs. SEZs will not come to Goa. The Congress government will not go against the people".

Nath also said, "The central government does not want to thrust upon any state SEZ which is not conducive." When asked about the fate of the three SEZs already notified, Nath said: "There is absolute provision in the (SEZ) Act for everything."

Kamat said the state government would send a formal communication to the Centre in two-three days recommending revocation of all 15 SEZs in Goa. "I am satisfied with my meeting with the Commerce and Industry Minister," he said.

The Goa Government had on December 31 announced scrapping SEZs following widespread protests by political parties, including the Congress and the opposition BJP.

Three of the SEZs, Cipla's Meditab Specialities, K Raheja Corporation and Peninsula Pharma Research Centr, have already been notified.