PANAJI: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, on Thursday, assured the state legislative assembly that he would direct the Anti-Corruption Branch of Goa police (ACB), to submit a preliminary report within 30 days, as regards its investigation into all the first information reports filed against those responsible for illegal allotment of land to the promoters of the Special Economic Zone.
“And upon receiving the report, I would do the needful,” Parsekar added.
“The matter as regards the SEZ land is before the Supreme Court, and the apex court vide an order has directed all the parties to maintain status-quo in the matter,” the Chief Minister informed the House, stating that pursuant to further order/ directions of the Supreme Court necessary action would be initiated.
Parsekar, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that the government is further favouring out-of-court settlement, and could allow the SEZ promoters to retain 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the land allotted to them, while taking back rest 80 per cent, without paying them any amount. “Meanwhile, I will direct the ACB, who has filed FIRs against those responsible for illegal allotment of land to SEZ promoters, to expedite the investigation and submit the preliminary report in 30 days,” he reiterated, stressing on the need to book those, who filled their pockets, while harming the state.
Earlier, the Congress MLA from Dabolim, Mauvin Godinho, who had raised a related issue during the Question Hour, demanded action against those responsible for giving 38 lakh sq mts of land to SEZ promoters, claiming that the entire scam is worth Rs 40,000 crore.
“Today, the value of the land is Rs 80,000 crore,” he stated, observing that the SEZ land allotment scam is bigger than the illegal mining scam, as the land was allotted at a throwaway price.
Godinho also suggested that the government should not go for out-of-court settlement as the Supreme Court may rule in favour of the government.
“If the government argues the case in a convincing manner, I am sure we will get back all the land from the SEZ promoters,” he observed, further questioning whether the government was striking another deal through out-of-court settlement.
Minister for Industries, Mahadev Naik, speaking on the occasion said that the particular land was allotted to the promoter of SEZ by the then government, in the year 2006.
He also admitted that this land allotment was illegal and had resulted in shrinking of the existing land available for industrialisation in the state.
It was informed that large tracts of land were allotted during April and May, in the year 2006, including 12.32 lakh sq mts of land to Meditab Specialities and 2.30 lakh sq mts of land to Peninsula Pharma Research Centre.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that his government had scrapped the Goa SEZ Policy, as well as issued notices to all SEZ promoters to return the land to the government.