Team Herald
PORVORIM: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has warned the State govt against paying interest to the SEZ promoters and also hinted at a land scam in connection with the reduction in open spaces in industrial estates.
The MLA, while citing the govt’s reply, stated that out of the 179 approvals to industries only 58 are operational, of which 28 are related to the expansion of existing industries whereas another six are for hospitality industries. “So from 2014-19, only 22 new industries have come up. I have scrutinised the documents… How many jobs are created?” he said while speaking on Demands for Grants on Industries, Trade & Commerce.
Kamat questioned the wisdom of the govt for paying a lump sum interest to an SEZ promoter towards acquisition of ‘illegal allotment of land’. Ironically, the interest of around Rs 128 crore, which is in addition to the principal amount of Rs 132 crore approximately, has been paid through a loan obtained by the IDC.
“The IDC has never given one paisa interest to anybody. People have surrendered their plots. So many plots have been taken over and many people have even surrendered, to which only the principal amount have been paid. For the first time in the history of IDC, they decided to pay interest on an illegal allotment of land,” he said adding that the cash-crunched IDC obtained loans to pay the interest amount ‘to somebody.’
Pointing at another alleged irregularity, the former CM cited a High Court judgment that clearly tagged that particular plot as illegal. However, he alleged that the State cabinet had bypassed the court order as well as the law.
“The Cabinet has no rights to bypass the Act and neither has the Supreme Court passed any order to pay interest. The idea was mooted by the government. I think you (Industries Minister Vishwajit Rane) should step in and tell the Chief Minister (Pramod Sawant). Put that money to clear the pending Laadli Laxmi applications. It would be a biggest achievement if they stop this pattern (of paying interests). Don’t spend people’s hard earned money to give money of promoters of SEZ land,” he commented.
On another issue, Kamat alleged irregularity into the Metastrip factory – a fact also conceded by the govt in the past. He also stated that on the eve of elections, the file was cleared bypassing the cabinet and CM on the transfer of the unit. “Even if the unit is transferred (to other unit), transfer fees have to be collected and in this case, the factory had to pay around Rs 31-32 crores but only 5 crore is collected. The total loss is said to be around Rs 26.61 crore on the transfer fees of units,” he added.
Kamat also raised concerns over the future of industrial growth in the State vis-à-vis recession in the country.
