PANAJI:  The Industrial Development Corporation will soon acquire around 20 lakh sq mts of land near various industrial estates around the state for further expansion of these estates.

In the past, approximately 34 lakh sq mts of land belonging to the IDC had been handed over to various companies by the Corporation for setting up of special economic zones. The same had entered into controversy after the government decided to withdraw the permissions for setting up of such zones in the state.
The IDC chairman, Mr Chandrakant Kavalekar told ‘The Navhind Times’ on Thursday that the recent meeting of the board of directors of the Corporation decided on acquiring such lands with an objective to expand the industrial estates around the state.
“Many of the existing industrial estates are saturated and require additional land for their expansion,” he added.
Incidentally, the companies in possession of 34 lakh sq mts of lands have argued that if they are not permitted to set up SEZs in the lands, then they should be allowed to establish any other industrial unit in the same. However, since the matter is sub judice, the IDC BoD has not taken any related decision.
Presently, Verna industrial estate is the largest industrial estate in the state and is spread in an area of 60 lakh sq mts. The IDC has decided to acquire around 2.60 lakh sq mts land near this industrial estate. The other lands proposed to be acquired are at Sancoale - 1.60 lakh sq mts, Marcaim - 5 lakh sq mts, Colvale - 1.33 lakh sq mts, Dhargal - 3.5 lakh sq mts and Tuyem - 6 lakh sq mts.  These lands have already been inspected and the IDC officials feel that the same can be undertaken for industrial expansion.
The IDC sources informed that a number of entrepreneurs, especially non-Goan entrepreneurs constantly contact the Corporation for lands to set up their units; however, the Corporation has no land at its hand, except in Pissurlem and Sanguem.