the goan I network
MARGAO
The SEZ Virodhi Manch has denounced the decision of the State Government to auction the SEZ lands when the appeal filed by villagers is still pending before the Supreme Court.
SEZ Virodhi Manch Working President, Franky Monteiro, pointed out that the government cannot arbitrarily dispose of the SEZ lands when the appeals are pending before the Supreme Court on the question of accountability from persons involved in the fraudulent allotments and whether the lands to be returned to the original owners.
Monteiro recalled that the Bombay High Court at Goa in a landmark judgment in November 2010 had set aside the allotment of GIDC lands to SEZ companies declaring the allotments illegal and fraudulent. The said judgment had castigated the GIDC for giving away public lands at throwaway rates in an arbitrary and non-transparent manner unknown to law.
SVM has demanded that the decision to auction the lands be kept in abeyance.
