Move aims to promote green and sustainable industries; govt team to visit Gujarat to study their SEZ model
PANAJI
The Pramod Sawant-led BJP government is all set to revive the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) model almost 17 years after it was scrapped by the State following public outcry. The SEZ project in the State was originally envisaged way back in 2007 across 38.4 lakh sq mtrs of land.
With the Central government laying thrust on SEZs to boost trade and employment, the State government has decided to reintroduce SEZs through the Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board and for which a team will be soon visiting Gujarat to study their model of SEZ.
While the detailed plan has been kept under wraps by the government, highly placed sources confirm that with the State looking forward towards becoming an investment destination, the SEZs are set to make a comeback with focus on promoting green-sustainable industrial projects.
“The government has approved a team visit to Gujarat to study their SEZ policy,” sources said.
Despite several attempts, Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho and Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board Chairman Antonio Vaz remained unavailable for the comments.
The then Congress government led by Digambar Kamat had introduced Goa SEZ Policy, 2006, to align with the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, and SEZ Rules, 2006, enacted by the Government of India. This policy sought to boost economic growth and attract investments by establishing SEZs.
As part of this policy, land, admeasuring over 38 lakh sq mtrs was allocated to seven promoters.
However, due to public opposition to the SEZ policy, the State government issued a white paper in December 2007 that highlighted concerns about the limited benefits of SEZs and their adverse impact on critical infrastructure, such as water and electricity. This resulted into government scrapping the policy in 2008.
Subsequently, the Goa-IDC issued show cause notices to all SEZ promoters asking why their lease agreements should not be cancelled. A formal cancellation order was issued on June 24, 2008. The aggrieved promoters moved High Court, who upheld State’s decision to withdraw the SEZ policy. The order was later challenged in the Supreme Court.
Five SEZ promoters – K Raheja & Corporation, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre, Planetview Mercantile Co, Inox Mercantile Company and Paradigm Logistics & Distribution agreed to surrender their land following directions from the Supreme Court and the State paid them almost Rs 300 crore as settlement in 2020-21.
In January, this year, the government decided to take back 123 hectares of land allotted to Meditab Specialist Ltd by payment of Rs 33 crore.
