Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 that allowed an additional 7.5 percent of open space area for development, has come as a major boost for the saturating industrial sector with Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) identifying an additional five lakh sq mtr of land for further growth of the sector.
The government in January had notified the amendment to the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 and Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010, as per which the open space area in industrial estates have been reduced from 15 percent to 7.5 percent and the utility area from 7.5 percent to 5 percent, thereby making the balance 10 percent available for industrial growth/expansion.
Speaking to Herald, GIDC chairman Glen Ticlo said the corporation, through a survey has identified additional five lakh sq mtrs of land for industrial set up in the industrial estates. “Currently, there is no land available for industrial purpose in the estates. And this has been the biggest issue for growth of the industrial sector. But the latest amendment has given some boost. With an additional 10 percent of land availability, we have now five lakh sq mtrs more of land for expansion of the sector,” Ticlo said.
There are 2489 industrial units spread across 23 industrial estates. Verna is largest with 539 units, followed by Kundaim with 356. At Panchwadi there are 32 units, but none have begun operations as the estate is yet to be fully operational.
“Government is committed to promote Goa as industrial/investment destination. For this purpose there is need for more industrial plots. You cannot set up industry anywhere. Land constraint was the biggest hurdle. With an additional five lakh sq mtrs of land, we will be in position to attract new industries in the estates,” the Chairman said.
Further, the land-constrained industry has also got the benefit of enhanced space with floor area ratio (FAR) hiked from 100 per cent to 150 per cent in industrial estates.
