Date:30/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/30/stories/2007123058420100.htm

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SEZ: relief in Goa as protesters put off decision

Prakash Kamat

PANAJI: The uncertainty over the New Year celebrations in the coastal tourist State of Goa came to an end on Saturday with the groups agitating against the special economic zone (SEZ) projects deciding to wait till January 2 to decide their next course of action.

The ice was broken following a meeting held by the leaders of the agitating groups and parties led by former Tourism Minister Matanhy Saldanha with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at the invitation of the latter.

Others included in the delegation led by the convener of the Goa Movement Against Special Economic Zone (GMAS) were Bharatiya Janata Party leaders — Manohar Parrikar, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and a former Chief Minister, and Sripad Naik, BJP’s Goa unit president and North Goa MP.

Kamat’s assurance

Addressing presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Saldanha said the Chief Minister assured them that he would come out with a concrete statement on the SEZ projects on January 2. In view of this, the GMAS thought it appropriate to defer its decision to intensify the agitation and wait till then to decide the next course of action, Mr. Saldanha stated.

He, however, made it clear that what they expected from the government was nothing short of scrapping of all SEZ projects.

Criticism

Launching a scathing attack on the proposed projects, Mr. Saldanha said these projects would not only gobble up precious land in the tiny State but also finish its identity.