PANAJI: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation, which is all set to expand industrial estates around the state soon, however, has 99 of its allotted plots in various industrial estates lying in idle condition while another 97 plots waiting to be allotted.

The area of such unused and non-allotted plots collectively admeasures few lakh square metres. 
Incidentally, complaints are on the rise from various entrepreneurs that there is a long delay in allotment of industrial plots by the GIDC after such applications are made to the Corporation. The complainants inform that the reason given for this delay is non-availability of plots in the industrial estates.
The GIDC had recently announced a programme for expansion of industrial estates around the state as well as establishment of new industrial estates to meet the demand of the industry as regards setting up of projects in Goa. In order to cope up with the pace of industrialisation in Goa, a special land acquisition cell had also been set up for gearing up the land acquisition proceedings.
Presently, three large plots are available in the Verna industrial estate, which houses units of prestigious industrial concerns. One of these plots admeasures 15,000 sq mt, while two others admeasure 6,000 sq mt and 9,000 sq mt. The cost of land in this industrial estate is Rs 750 per sq mt. These three plots are, however, reserved for setting up service-providing facilities to the industrial estate.
The Pissurlem industrial estate has 20 yet-to-be allotted plots, including 16 industrial plots and four for setting up service-providing facilities. The largest plot available in this industrial estate is 9,163 sq mt, with the current rate of plots standing at Rs 275 per sq mt.
The Sanguem industrial estate on the other hand has 3 yet-to-be-allotted plots, the largest one admeasuring 1.5 lakh sq mt. Plots in this industrial estate are being sold at the rate of Rs 150 per sq mt.
Interestingly, the Quitol industrial estate in Quepem taluka has 36 non-allotted plots and their price is yet to be ascertained. The sizes of these plots range from 500 to 1,000 square metres. The Cacoda industrial estate has 16 such plots readied, to be sold at the rate of Rs 275 per sq mt. The Kundaim industrial estate, which is another important industrial estate in the state, has 18 plots remaining to be allotted for industrial activities. These plots are sized between 800 sq mt and 1,000 sq mt.  
Since the past three years, the GIDC has allotted 216 plots in industrial estates at Pilerne, Honda, Corlim, Colvale, Verna, Tivim, Kundaim, Pissurlem, Marcaim, Sancoale, Bethoda, Tuyem, Shiroda, Cacoda, Margao, Cuncolim, Canacona and Sanguem, which indicates annual allotment of 72 plots to the entrepreneurs.
Information received from the GIDC sources revealed that out of these 216 allotted plots, work has not started on at least 99 of them. In the Verna industrial estate itself, out of the 41 plots allotted during the last three years, no work has commenced on at least 23 plots. Currently, more than 299 applications for obtaining plots in various industrial estates are pending before the board of directors of the GIDC.