Goa decides to revoke land given to 7 SEZs

Panaji, Jun 14: In sync with its new policy, the Goa government has decided to take back 38 lakh square metres of land allotted to seven Special Economic Zones (SEZ) with immediate effect.

Simultaneously, the authorities would refund around Rs 100 crore paid by the promoters towards purchase of the land.This decision was taken yesterday by the state-owned Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), which is the nodal agency for industrial growth in the state, its Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar said. The GIDC had also served show cause notice to the seven promoters asking why the land could not be taken back with the government deciding against the SEZs in tune with the wishes of the general public.

Five companies were allotted land in Verna Industrial Estate, while one each in Keri and Sancole.

The Union Commerce Ministry had approved six of the 15 proposed SEZs and three of them were notified.

The SEZ issue was sizzling up in the state with the Centre recently expressing its inability to denotify the three SEZs as requested by the state.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat maintained that he would again pursue the Ministry of Commerce if necessary for denotification of the three SEZs and would not go against the popular demand or wishes of the people in Goa on any issue.

UNI