Team Herald
PANJIM: With the State government amending the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008, granting an additional 7.5 per cent of open space area for development, Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has begun a survey to assess the additional land that would be available for allotment in industrial estates.
The government last month notified an 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 the industrial estates has been reduced from 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent and the utility area from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent, thereby opening up the balance 10 per cent for industrial growth/expansion.
Speaking to Herald, GIDC managing director Narayan Gad said that with the new amendment, there is an additional 10 per cent of land available for allotment either for new industries or for expansion of existing units. “To ascertain the exact amount of land available in each industrial estate, we are undertaking the survey, which is expected to be completed in the next 20 days,” he said.
Gad said the survey will give a clear picture of the land availability and so plans can be made for allotment. “Currently, there is no land available for industrial purpose in the estates. Hence, the latest amendment will give some boost,” he said.
Industry has also benefited from enhanced space with floor area ratio (FAR) hiked from 100 per cent to 150 per cent in industrial estates. The amendment also reduces the existing side and rear setback up to 3 metres, and for open space and general utility space it has been reduced up to 10 per cent to increase the land coverage from 50 per cent to 60 per cent.
The State currently has 21 operational industrial estates, while the 22nd will be come up at Latambarse, Bicholim. There are 2489 industrial units spread across 20 industrial estates. Verna is largest estate with 539 units, followed by Kundaim having 356. At Panchwadi, 32 units have been allocated plots, but none have begun operations as the estate is yet to be fully operational.
