Goa to clear its stand on SEZs in the state

PANAJI: 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 January.

"I will try to speak my mind on the issue on January two or three," Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat who has been going through turbulent times due to SEZ issue, told media.

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

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

"I cant take any decision till I consult my alliance partners, my own party and committees which are studying the matter," Kamat said.

He said 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, there are clear indications that the state government is waiting to scrap all the seven approved SEZs, which was supposed to bring in 2,42,000 direct jobs in next five years.