Team Herald

PANJIM: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Thursday raised strong objection to government plan to auction Special Economic Zone (SEZ) land urging Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant not to grant the nod for same. 

In a tweet, Kamat said SEZs were scrapped upholding the sentiments of Goans by his government way back in 2008. 

He said the Bombay High Court at Goa had even vindicated their government’s stand terming the allotment to SEZ promoters as illegal. 

"SEZs were scrapped upholding the sentiments of Goans by my government. Hon'ble High Court had vindicated our stand & termed the allotments illegal. I once again urge @goacm @DrPramodPSawant not to give his nod to auction the SEZ land going against the IDC Regulations," Kamat tweeted. 

IDC has already taken back around 24 lakh sq mts of land from Inox Mercantile Company, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre, Planetview Mercantile Company, K Raheja & Corporation and Paradigm Logistics & Distribution.

The government is in talks with two SEZ promoters-Maxgrow Finlease and Meditab Specialties to unlock the balance around 14 lakh sq mts.

State government has now decided to auction the land to recover over Rs 200 crore paid to the promoters.

Following a public protest, the then Congress government had scrapped all the SEZs and withdrawn the policy in 2008.