Syngenta set to transfer ownership

Team Herald

PANJIM: Corlim-based M/s Syngenta India Ltd is all set to transfer its ownership to the Visakhapatnam-based Deccan Fine Chemicals despite the opposition from the locals and local Panchayat. 

The internal circular, documents and agreements which have been circulated among the existing employees, which are supposed to be retained by the successive company, have revealed that from June 1, 2016 the Deccan Fine Chemical will take over the management from the Syngenta India Ltd. 

“This is to inform you that with effect from June 1, 2016 as a part of business restructuring, the chemical manufacturing business situated at Santa Monica Works Goa will be transferred to Deccan Fine Chemical (India) Private Limited. Consequently with effect from the said date, your employment will also stand transferred to Deccan Fine Chemicals (India) Private Limited” the notice to the existing employees reads. 

The notice which was signed by the Apurv Choubey, South Asia HR Head of Syngenta India Limited has also requested to acknowledge the acceptance for the transfer by signing the acknowledgement as confirmation.  

On behalf of Deccan Fine Chemical (India) Private Limited G S Raju, Managing Director has said that in the same letter that service of the individuals will be continued without any interruption and on equivalent terms and conditions.  

However, the Village Panchayat of Corlim on April 12, 2016 in a special meeting conveyed to address the issue had passed the resolution to stop the sale of the said plot to the Deccan Fine Chemicals. 

It was further pointed out that the Deccan Fine Chemicals has a track record of industrial accidents, with such accidents taking place at Bhopal.

The said resolution copy has been forwarded to President of India, Prime Minister, Minister for Human Resource and Human Rights, Capitalization Commission of India, Governor of Goa, Chief Minister of Goa, Union Minister Shripad Naik, MP Rajya Sabha Shantaram Naik, Deputy Chief Minister, local MLA, Chief Secretary, Director of Panchayat and others. 

The local village panchayat as well as bodies such as Corlim Citizen Civic and Consumer Forum have also opposed the transfer of ownership of the land as well as the manufacturing unit based on the original sale deed which was signed between Government of India and Ciba India Limited.

The plot of 7.54 sq mts which was originally an agricultural land was given on lease to Ciba India Limited when Goa was an Union Territory by the government in 1969 for providing boost to the industrial sector in the state. The land, which later went from Ciba India Limited to Ciba-Geigy and later to M/s Syngenta India Ltd, an agrochemical manufacturing facility. 

The panchayat has claimed that in the case of purchase, reselling the said plot or any part or portion, which has not been developed and is lying vacant then the vendor, which is government of Goa, has a first priority to purchase it back with the same price for which it was sold. 

The villagers around Syngenta are in anxiety due to the past records of the new company, which is taking over the Syngenta India Limited. The deal was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after which the particular facility of M/s Syngenta India Ltd, including its assets, licences and permits, assumed liabilities and employees were transferred to Deccan Fine Chemicals.

Deccan Fine Chemicals is engaged in manufacturing of chemical-based active ingredients and intermediates for agricultural chemicals, veterinary medicines and specialty chemicals, while the Indian unit of Switzerland-headquartered Syngenta AG is in the business of agrochemicals and seeds processing.