The Hindu : Karnataka News : Campaign against SEZs sans policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka

Campaign against SEZs sans policy

Special Correspondent

Goa Government’s decision to establish 15 such zones opposed

PANAJI: Criticising the Congress-led Government for going in for special economic zones (SEZs) sans any policy or study of employment needs, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) apprehends that the Government will create a “demographic invasion in the State by artificially inspiring inward migration of lakhs of job seekers”.

Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar on Monday announced the main Opposition’s plans to launch a massive public awareness programme against the Government’s decision to allow SEZs sans a policy or planning for jobs and infrastructure.

He was not opposed to SEZs. What he was opposed to was the State Government’s decision to go in for 15 SEZs for such a tiny State, of which seven had been approved by the Centre. He demanded that the Government stop notifying any more SEZs. Mr. Parrikar said that while 91 lakh sq. mts. of land had been allotted by the State-owned Goa Industrial Development Corporation for various SEZs, over 98 lakh sq. mts of land had been earmarked for others which were pending approvals. Mr. Parrikar alleged that prime land at various places had been given away at throw-away prices in the name of SEZs.

Based on the replies given by the State Government in the State Assembly recently, Mr. Parrikar said that the Government had stated that SEZs would create an employment of over 3.12 lakh. Stating that SEZs proposed in different categories, including information technology, could meet the employment needs of 50,000 local youths at the best, Mr. Parrikar apprehended that generation of over 2.5 lakh jobs in excess of that could spark inward migration of people which could put unprecedented pressure on housing, power, water supply and other infrastructure which the State had not planned for.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka