PANJIM: The State government is firm on its decision to auction 24 lakh sq mtrs of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) land by April 30, 2020, to repay the loan amount of over Rs 200 crore paid to the promoters to unlock the land.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Industries Minister Vishwajit Rane said that file with regards to auction of the land has been forwarded to Advocate General for legal opinion. “We have to auction the land by April 30, 2020 as the interest amount is just pilling up. From May, 2020, the interest itself will go to Rs 3.5 crore per month,” he said.
Rane said that government will have to auction the land to repay the loan amount of over Rs 200 crore paid to the SEZ promoters to unlock the land. “The decision in this regard is already taken by IDC board and Cabinet,” he said adding that cabinet has also approved dropping of FIRs against the SEZ promoters and AGs opinion is being sought.
IDC has already taken back around 24 lakh sq mts of land from Inox Mercantile Company, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre, Planetview Mercantile Company, K Raheja & Corporation and Paradigm Logistics & Distribution.
The government is in talks with two SEZ promoters Maxgrow Finlease and Meditab Specialties to unlock the balance land of around 14 lakh sq mts.
Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat has raised objection to the government’s plan of auctioning the land.
Kamat had said SEZs were scrapped upholding the sentiments of Goans by his government way back in 2008.
He said the Bombay High Court at Goa had even vindicated their government’s stand terming the allotment to SEZ promoters as illegal.
Speaking further on employment, the minister said that people will have to have patience till December 31, this year, as after that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will take some decision on employment.
“We have got exactly two years and three months from January 1, 2020 to go for election and we have lot of responsibilities, especially on employment front. This Pramod Sawant-led government should be known as employment oriented, youth oriented and a government committed towards women welfare and empowerment,” Rane said.
He said that in next 14-15 months, we need to complete the recruitment process.
