Porvorim: The government on Friday clarified that there was no "backdoor deal" being worked out with promoters of
SEZ in Goa who are locked in litigation with the government over land in Goa's industrial estates.
Intervening in the debate over land given to SEZs during question hour in the legislative assembly, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the government will come out with a policy on the issue and invite public suggestions. He also said that giving back 30 percent land to the SEZ promoters was just one "option" he had thrown up.
This issue dates back to July 24 when Parrikar said in the assembly that the government was considering giving the SEZ promoters 30 percent of the land to free the rest of the land ? about 35 lakh sq m- now locked in litigation with the promoters. He had stated that it was just an idea and that nothing was finalized.
The "backdoor deal" question was posed by Curtorim Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. The MLA asked why the government was thinking of giving away 30 percent of the land when it was legally right and demanded to know whether the government would bring in new legislation to get the land back. "Many Goans have fought for that land," Lourenco said.
But Parrikar countered him by saying that the 30 percent statement was just an option and that this situation was created by the Congress. Parrikar also said that the SEZ promoters had paid around 146 crore and if the government wants the land back, it will have to pay back the money with interest. The courts may take 10 years to dispose the case and there is no guarantee that the judgment will be in the state's favour.
Parrikar said that compromise is the best solution and this involved give-and-take. He said that the matter is before the court, which is considering whether the allotment of and to the promoters was illegal. Since the matter is subjudice, he cannot reveal more details, he said.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com