Goa villagers file petition against SEZ land

Goa villagers have approached the Goa bench of Bombay HC appealing against the SEZs land allotment by State-run Goa Industrial Development Corp.

Goa villagers have approached the Goa bench of Bombay High Court appealing against the Special Economic Zones(SEZs) land allotment by State government-run Goa Industrial Development Corporation(GIDC).

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The villagers, in their petition before the court, have termed the land allotment as "fraudulent".

The villagers from Keri, Sancoale and Verna, have filed a petition challenging GIDC's decision to allot land to these SEZs in their villages, on 95-year-lease basis.

The petition mostly concerns three notified SEZs-- Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, K Raheja and Peninsula Pharma Research Pvt Ltd.

The petition has also questioned land allotment in seven SEZs including these three. The villagers have complained that the land was allotted without involving public in the land allotment process.

"In some case, the land was allotted as quick as within seven days of the application," Colin Gonsalves, a lawyer representing the villagers, said.

GIDC which faced severe criticism for allotment of the land, has already issued showcause notice to all the seven SEZ promoters.

GIDC officials said that they have decided to revoke the land allotment acting on the directives of the government.

"We have issued showcause notices and final step to revoke the land will be decided after the meet by board of directors" a senior official said.

Also, SEZ issue is a hotly debated issue in the state with Digamer Kamat-led government taking anti-SEZ stand bowing to the pressures of the masses.