GIDC takes over 22 unutilized plots

news feed : herald
http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/GIDC-takes-over-22-unutilized-plots/88272.html

PANJIM: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has taken over 22 industrial plots, with a total area of 80,000 sq mts that had been unutilized or underutilized for the last four years. The plots will now be reallocated to new industry players to set up pollution-free industries.

Another 35 unutilized or underutilized plots will be taken over shortly, for failing to carry out any work even after the plot owners were granted extension, last year. 

Around 100 industrial plot owners were issued show-cause notices by GIDC in March 2013 asking them ‘why action should not be taken to terminate their tenancy and evacuate them from the plot’. Following a request from industry players, a year and half long extension up to December 2014, was granted to them to set up the units. 

Almost 65 per cent of the plot owners in various industrial estates have left their plots unutilized or underutilized while the balance 35 per cent has carried out partial construction.

A senior GIDC official confirmed taking possession of the 22 plots. “Soon we will be taking over 35 more plots,” the official said.

The official said that since the government is keen on promoting Goa as an industrial destination, it has to solve the problem of land availability. “We have enough land in the industrial estates but this has been occupied and been kept without using,” the official added.

The government has already notified plot transfer regulations, under which, it is mandatory for the allottees to utilize 30 per cent of the plot and carry out certain portion of production activities, before putting up papers for transfer.

As per the State Investment Policy, the government aims to bring in an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in five years. However, scarcity of land is the biggest challenge it faces. 

Presently, there are 22 industrial estates across the State, most of which have no scope for expansion. The government in the past had expressed its desire to double the number of industrial estates so as to promote industry.