Panaji, Jan 3 (ANI): Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat is expected to meet Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath here today on the issue of Goa Government's decision to scrap all Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the State.

Union Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai, on Wednesday, said that the State Governments have no power to scrap notified SEZs.

The Goa Government had decided to scrap all 15 SEZs in the State on December 31, 2007 following widespread political protests, including by the Congress party workers.

This was after seven SEZs had been approved by the Centre's Board of Approval, which is headed by Pillai.

Of the seven approved SEZs, three had been notified. These three include Cipla's Meditab Specialities, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and K Raheja Corporation.

Kamat is expected to ask Kamal Nath to put on hold the remaining SEZs that have been approved but not notified.

The State Government faced a tough time last week with anti-SEZ protestors intensifying their movement. There have been protests against SEZs in several states, including West Bengal, Maharashtra and Haryana, but Goa is the first Congress-ruled state to have gone back on the SEZ policy. (ANI)