Centre refuses to denotify SEZs in Goa

SEZ developers in the state have filed petitions in the high court against the ‘stop work’ order issued to them by the Government. The Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court, while hearing the matter on Monday, gave two weeks time to the state Government to decide on the order issued by it to all the three notified industrial enclaves proposed in the state.

On December 31 last year, the state Government, under immense public and political pressure, had decided to scrap 12 SEZs which were at different stages of approval and notification while three were referred to the Union Board of Approval under the Commerce Ministry to take a final stand.

The Commerce Ministry’s letter, which was presented before the high court this morning, says that those SEZs which are not approved can be scrapped while in case of those approved but not notified can be served show cause notice as to why their permission should not be cancelled. The state Government is in piquant situation over the issue of notified SEZs which include – Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd (spread over 304 acres), Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd (20.36 hectares) and K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd (spread over 107.17 hectares (IT/ITES).

“The state Government headed by Chief Minister Digamber Kamat will meet and take appropriate decision on the issue. We will take formal stand within a couple of days,”said Singh. Goa’s Advocate General Subodh Kantak who had to present this letter before the Bench on Monday, said that the Centre has taken the stand only after consulting legal experts. “The state Government can enter into discussion to settle the issue with the promoters,” Kantak said.