Misery SEZ it all

The Goa government's mega plan to set up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) shatters many dreams in Cortalim, report PREETU NAIR and JOAQUIM GRACIAS

PANJIM: When Savita Naik approached the Cortalim panchayat with a proposal to construct a residential cum commercial building in the 330 sq metres of land in Survey No 134/1, Plot No 27 at Cortalim village on September 11, 2006, she was hoping that the family would be reunited soon.
"My husband is employed in a hotel in Bahrain and earns anything between Rs 16,000 to 17,000 a month. We had decided that once the structure is ready he would return to the country and set up some business along with my son. He is tired of working in the Gulf," revealed Savita. Two years back the couple had invested their earnings of the last 22 years in the plot.
However, she got a shock when she received a letter from S P Surlakar, Deputy Town Planner, Town and Country Planning (TCP) department, Mormugao stating, "the proposal falls in the SEZ as per the Regional Plan for Goa 2011 and hence construction of residential cum commercial building is not permitted."
The family's little dreams have been crushed under Goa government's mega plans to set up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) inorder to attract industries and create new jobs for Goans.
"I can't sleep at night. We have lost our hard earned money. When we purchased the land, we never knew that the government is planning to convert the area into SEZ," added Savita. She is reluctant to sell her land and a sword of uncertainty is hanging above her head.
Like Savita, there are many more people who are vigorously opposing the government's idea of converting the settlement areas in Mormugao as SEZ in the new Regional Plan for Goa 2011. Sources at TCP department reveal that there are already 25 constructed houses in the area earmarked for SEZ. "We took a loan of Rs 16 lakh to build a residential cum commercial building a year back and are now paying Rs 30,000 a month as installment. How can the government that talks about welfare of its people convert the settlement area into SEZ without thinking about our welfare," questioned Ermelia D'Souza e Fernandes.
What people fail to understand is how their deed of sale was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao if the government was planning to convert the area into SEZ.
Mario Almeida purchased some land in November 26, 2004 thinking that it was area earmarked as settlement area. He had no idea that the government would go ahead and earmark the area as SEZ despite people's opposition. "I had brought 302 sq metres of plot after paying Rs 3,08,000 by a deed of sale dated November 25, 2004, which was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao," he said.
And even as the officials at TCP department continuously claim that past commitments are going to be honored, people like Mario are apprehensive about it.
Interestingly, the Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha passed a resolution on November 26 demanding with the Chief Town Planner to change back the marked SEZ land in Cortalim and Quelossim to settlement area. It was also resolved "that no land should be acquired in future for any industry", and that if a decision needs to be taken, it should be in consultation with the gram sabha.
Further, it was also highlighted at the gram sabha that villagers in Cortalim and Quelossim at present face acute water and power shortage. Also stated in the gram sabha resolution was that "If more industries are allowed in the village the problem will worsen. That industries that have come in the village has in no way benefit locals".
However, thanks to the writ petition filed by the Goa Heritage Action Group on the Regional Plan 2011, people here have got some relief . After the submission made by the special government counsel on November 28, 2006 in the High Court of Mumbai at Panjmi, Morad Ahmad, Chief Town Planner sent a note to all district and taluka level officers of the TCP department. In the note he stated, "No permissions/NOCs for development, recommendation of conversion under Land Revenue Code and permissions/reports etc in any form shall be granted/issued based on the new areas shown for development in Regional Plan 2011 till further orders."
Probably, a moment of relief before the Congress government sets up islands of affluence over a sea of deprivation.

(Article appeared in GT Weekender,December 3,2006)