SDA representatives interact with Parliamentary Committee

Surat, Nov 8 (UNI) Representatives of Surat Diamond Association (SDA) today alleged that the land given on lease to diamond merchants in 1985 was resold at a higher price and the original owners were not given any compensation.

At a meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce here today, they blamed the Surat Special Economic Zone (SURSEZ) officials for the lapses and threatened to approach the courts to get their dues, a spokesperson of the SDA told reporters.

However, SURSEZ CEO Shradhanand Sharma told UNI that the allegations were ''baseless''. ''Actually, we have not sold the land to them. According to our rules and regulations, there is only permission to lease the land. In 1985, we had leased out lands to them for starting industries. But many of them were kept without any development. So, we have cancelled the lease after duly informing them,'' he clarified.

He said they had developed the land by adding more infrastructure and subsequently the land was leased out for a higher price.

Later talking to reporters, MP Kashiram Rana, who presided over the meeting in the absence of Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, said the proceedings were confidential, hence he could not divulge anything.

However, he said some representatives had informed the Committee that they had faced certain problems in the SURSEZ and that would be looked into.

The Committee report would be submitted to Parliament in the coming winter session, he added.

Another member of the standing committee C K Chandrappan told UNI that the allegations of child labour were raised by some representatives.

UNI MS SSS-OBB VD GC1853