IDC seeks Govt advise on SEZ lands
PTI, PANAJI | 14 December 2010 22:47 IST
After the high court's order against the lands given to Special Economic Zones (SEZ) promoters, state-run Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has now decided to consult government on further course of action.
"The lands were leased to SEZ promoters as state government had supported these industrial enclaves at that time. Later when Goa government withdrew SEZ policy, we issued show cause notices to the promoters seeking to take back the lands," GIDC Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters today.
He said after the recent judgment by the Bombay High court at Goa, the corporation will consult state government on the matter. The high court had observed that the lands were given to seven SEZ promoters in the `haste'.
"We had to hurry in giving the lands as there was a pressure to expediting procedures for setting up SEZs. The central government and state government had adopted the policy promoting SEZs then," Kavlekar said.
The chairman also said that the legal opinion on the high court order would be sought to avoid any further litigations, if the land is taken back from the developers.
He stated that the corporation has no hassles in giving back the money paid by the promoters to them.
"Some of the companies had not paid the entire amount as they were paying in the installments," Kavlekar said.
Following the HC judgment, last month, Anti-SEZ activists had demanded that the state should take back the lands and give it to the farmers from whom it was acquired to set up SEZs.
Kavlekar said that the lands were acquired much earlier and were with the IDC.
"The lands were purchased to promote industries and not with the specific purpose to allot them to SEZs," he said.
Goa government had scrapped its SEZ policy after public ire against them in the state. The state-run GIDC had issued show cause notices to seven promoters seeking to take back the land allotted to them after government's policy turned against these industrial enclaves.
