Palash Kumar A separate clause is being introduced in Rule 19 of the SEZ rules as 19(8) to allow the government to set up its project to build strategic oil reserves on SEZ land without the mandatory export condition.

For a change, the quarterly meeting of North Goa Zilla Panchayat (NGZP) held today turned out to be without any trouble. Congratulatory motions dominated the meeting. A motion was moved congratulating the government about its decision to go head with the proposed Mopa International airport. There was also a motion moved congratulating the government for scrapping Special Economic Zone (SEZs.) Both the motions were moved by Upadhyaksha Kishore Narvekar. A motion was also moved congratulating Adhayaksha Amol Morajkar for completing one year in office.

Goa Pradesh Youth Congress, while welcoming the resolution of Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to cancel and revoke land allotments to SEZ companies in Goa, has ridiculed the Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar for refusing to appreciate Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's decision to scrap SEZ from Goa. GPYC chief Sankalp Amonkar said CM deserved kudos for his latest decision to cancel land allotment to SEZ promoters.

The Citizens Welfare Committee has won the first round of battle against the South Goa Planning and Development Authority when the PDA handed over copy of the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao to the activists. The plan, however, cost the CWC around Rs 1500

Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has appealed to all Goans, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or political affiliation, to remain united and strengthen the hands of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat in the fight against the establishment of Special Economic Zones till the last stone is unturned in the larger interest of the state.

A residential area in Chittagong after flash flooding. FORMAL city planning in this part of the world began with Sir Patrick Geddess producing a Master Plan for Dhaka in 1917. The plan was never implemented. With the establishment of a planning department in erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in the year 1948, planning activities got an institutional beginning. A British consultant was engaged for producing the Master Plans for Dhaka and Chittagong; Khulna was added later on. The Master Plans for Dhaka and Chittagong were prepared in 1960 and 1961 respectively.

The proposed garbage depot on 57 acres of forest land at Punawale, which is facing severe opposition from all quarters, has put the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in a tight spot. As political parties are up in arms against the depot coming up near the Mumbai-Pune highway, there are a list of 14 conditions whose compliance is being sought by the forest department.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday said that it would launch an agitation in Uttar Pradesh to expose exploitation of farmers whose land had been acquired for various projects, including numerous housing schemes, at throwa-way rates. Law and order had deteriorated and Dalits and women we're suffering, PCC president Rita Bahuguna said, while releasing a list of 21 Ministers who, she alleged, had a "criminal background."

The state BJP Bhoo Parirakshana Samiti convenor, Dr S. Malla Reddy, said that farmers were meted out injustice in land acquisition for establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and urged the state government to take steps to help them.

Documents on SEZs (special economic zones) reveal that altogether 19 companies had applied to the Goa government for setting up SEZs in the State. Of these, the Pratapsing Rane-headed coalition government had made recommendation to Board of Approvals, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, in 15 cases. These included two government SEZs promoted by Dayanand Narvekar-headed Information Technology (InfoTech) Corporation, namely IT Habitat in Dona Paula and IT Park in Socorro.