Thaindian News

Panaji, Dec 6 (IANS) Goa government’s controversial allocation of land to seven promoters had created “monsters” out of the special economic zone (SEZ) concept, an industry body said Monday.

The Goa Small Industries Association (GSIA) also cheered the recent high court decision setting aside the land allotments.

“GSIA believes that very carefully designed SEZs would have fuelled growth of MSME (micro, small and medium scale enterprises) in Goa. However, haphazard allocation of land to SEZ without creating a well defined policy and strategy has created a monster out of SEZ,” GSIA president Shekhar Sardesai told reporters here.

The scam relates to SEZ land allotment to the tune of 32 lakh sq metres spread in seven pockets across the state.

Two weeks ago, the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court passed an order setting aside the allotments, terming them “illegal” and done in “undue haste”.

The court also ordered that the allotted land be reverted to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), which had allotted the land to the seven promoters namely Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd, Cipla group, Peninsular Pharma Research Ltd, Paradigm Logistic & Distributors, Planetview Mercantile Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercentile Pvt Ltd and M/s Maxgrow.

“The government should ensure that there is a well defined objective in rational while re-allocating this land,” Shekar said, adding that the government needed to attract industries which are non-polluting, generate employment and trigger a growth of ancillary industries.