MARGAO
SEZ Virodhi Manch has demanded that the SEZ land be immediately returned to the original owners, claiming that the companies have now expressed their willingness to surrender the SEZ land back to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Manch President Franky Monteiro said that Goans have won another battle against SEZs in the State, saying the Rahejas have finally decided to surrender the land allotted to them for setting up SEZ back to the government. He said Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd and sister concern Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd were allotted 10,66,383 sq mts and 3,90,122 sq mts respectively by GIDC in 2006 for setting up SEZs in Verna Industrial Estate.
The Bombay High Court at Goa in November 2010 had set aside the allotment of almost 40 lakh sq mts lands at Verna, Keri and Sancoale by GIDC to seven SEZ companies.
Franky said all the seven SEZ companies had challenged the High Court order before the Supreme Court and the matters were listed for final hearing on February 23, 2018. At the hearing, the advocates representing the Rahejas’ have expressed their willingness to surrender the SEZ land back to GIDC, Franky said in a statement.
He further said that this will stifle rumours being spread by some elements that SEZ activists had compromised their interests with the SEZ companies. “The SEZ Virodhi Manch now demand that the land be returned back to the original owners as it has been proven beyond doubt that land were acquired by GIDC on false pretext that the land was required for setting up industries and then fraudulently given away in large chunks to SEZ companies,” he added.
Franky said though the other five SEZ companies i.e three in Verna Industrial Estate, one in Sancoale and one in Keri are still contesting the appeals filed before the Supreme Court, villagers from Verna, Loutolim, Sancoale and Keri have also filed counter appeal in the Supreme Court praying that the lands be returned to the original owners and also demanding accountability from the Ministers/GIDC officials/ company representatives involved in the fraudulent land allotments.
He said villagers have complete faith and trust in the judiciary that the prayers in the Counter Appeal filed by villagers shall be granted by the Supreme Court.
