TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Considering that land is scarce for industrial development, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has decided to reserve 40 percent of land for special investment projects from the thrust areas in the industrial estates, where growth and employment potentials are high.
GIDC in its board meeting held on Saturday decided to amend the ‘GIDC Plot Allotment Regulations 2012’, according to which currently 20 percent of land for any special projects is reserved under directions from the government.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Parrikar said that pending finalization of investment policy, the Corporation decided to initiate few steps towards industrial growth. He said that 40 percent of land would be now reserved exclusively for special projects.
Chief Minister pointed out that the top most priority before the Board was to ‘create’ land, which the industrial players claim is in short supply. “There is lot of land available in the industrial estates, which we have decided to reserve for big projects. Government has been receiving several proposals, which are been kept pending. We aim to put the infrastructure in place first,” he said.
GIDC Allotment Regulations, 2012, were notified earlier this year, to bring in more transparency in plot allotments. Government has 22 industrial estates and is planning five more. Large numbers of plots allotted to industrial players have been reportedly found vacant for years. Government has already issued notices to around 140 people.
GSIA president Shekhar Sardessai said that the Board has decided to amend the Regulations by reserving 40 percent of land in the industrial estates for the special projects, which would be environmental friendly and where employment potential would be high.
Sardessai said that this reserved land would be allotted to those players who want to invest large amount and would require about 10,000 sq mtrs and above area.
