Goa CM heads for Delhi for talks to resolve SEZ row

A day after the Goa government announced scrapping of all the 15 SEZ projects in the state, including three already notified, the Centre questioned the decision.

The Union Commerce Ministry yesterday refused to denotify the three SEZs, raising prospects of fresh trouble in the coastal state where anti-SEZ groups had been vehemently protesting against setting up of the trade zones.

The protesters, including a section of the ruling Congress and some other political parties, had put their agitation on hold after the state government's decision.

Sources close to Chief Minister's office said that Kamat, along with MP Shantaram Naik, would meet the Congress leaders in Delhi to seek their intervention to resolve the sensitive matter.

"We will meet party leaders first as Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is not in Delhi," Naik said over phone from the national capital.

Naik, who was critical of the Centre's decision not to denotify SEZs, said the statement by Union Commerce Secretary "absurd, fallacious and illogical".

Issuing a notification is an executive decision which can be changed if public interest demands, he pointed out.

"Our legal system is not watertight compartment, and it has its inherent flexibilities. The authority which has the power to issue the notification, also has the power to withdraw it," the Congress MP said.

Meanwhile, partners in the ruling alliance, who are also opposing the SEZs have adopted a 'wait and watch' approach, thereby giving time to the Chief Minister to solve the issue.

Anti-SEZ groups say the zones will put heavy burden on infrastructure and change the demography of the tiny state as people from other states will migrate here in large numbers.