SEZ promoters to contest Goa govt's decision

MUMBAI: The seven special economic zones (SEZs) promoters have decided to challenge the Goa government's decision to withdraw the state SEZ policy. The Digambar Kamat-led government on Monday resolved to scrap its own policy that had cleared as many as 15 SEZs.

The SEZ promoters - Meditabh Specialities, Cipla Group, Peninsular Pharma Research, Paradigm Logistic & Distributors, Planetview Mercantile, Inox Mercentile and Maxgrow - have approached the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court, after the Goa Industries Development Corporation served notices asking them why the land allotted to them should not be withdrawn in view of the state government's decision to de-notify the zones.

Two years after the state decided to scrap three cleared and notified SEZs, the Goa government on Monday decided to withdraw its policy that had promised to set up 15 SEZs.

The development assumes significance in the light of raging controversy over these economic zones, touted as new-age growth engines.

The decision confirms the government's intentions to do away with all SEZs in Goa. "Our decision has been very clear, we do not want to have any SEZ in the state as people do not want it. Withdrawing of policy is part of this process," Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat said.

Earlier, in a bid to attract more industries to Goa, the state in 2006 had formulated the SEZ policy and allocated vast acres of land to various SEZ developers. However, largescale protests coming from across segment later forced the state to change its plans. This made the chief minister to announce plans to de-notify the three approved zones on December 31, 2007. Later, the state government also sought Centre's permission to scrap the SEZ projects and de-notify the approved zones, a decision that was challenged by the three approved companies at the Goa bench of Bombay High Court. Since then the matter is subjudice.