PANAJI
In a bid to address the politically sensitive land allotment issue, the State government has notified a policy laying down the procedure and criteria for allotment of plots in the Tuem electronic cluster.
The policy proposes to organise the nearly six lakh square meters of the cluster broadly into plots of two sizes -- one acre for promoters of larger units and smaller ones of 350-800 sq mts for promoters proposing smaller units.
Land allotted will be on a long term lease of 30 years with provision to renew the lease for an additional 30 years.
Notified through the Department of Information Technology, the land policy also puts in place a 'Screening Committee' which will scrutinize applications.
It will be headed by the Director, Department of Information Technology and comprise of Managing Director of Info Tech Corporation of Goa, Director of the Finance Department's PPP Cell, Chief Engineer, M/s Info Tech Corporation of Goa, who will also be its Member Secretary, Dy Manager (Accounts & Administration) of the Info Tech Corporation and nominees of Goa Industrial Development Corporation, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Goa State Industries Association.
Proprietorship or partnership firms, corporate bodies, including private limited companies, LLPs, public sector companies, public limited companies and even Co-operative Societies are eligible to set up units and seek land, the policy says.
The Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Cluster is promoted by the Department of Information & Technology which has set up a special purpose vehicle -- Tuem Electronics City Limited earlier this year although the proposed greenfield electronics manufacturing cluster had got the Centre's approval way back in 2017.
To check squatters, the land policy stipulates that allottees will get just two years to set up the unit and begin production. Also, although it will be land on a 30-year lease basis, the policy states that allottees will be permitted to raise finance by mortgaging the plot.
Upon receipt of an application, the Chief Promoter (Director IT) may decide to permit an allottee to mortgage the lease hold rights over the plot, machinery installed/to be installed and the factory building constructed, it states.
The policy also imposes a series of conditions including documents to show expertise in the field and details of existing operations elsewhere so as to attract only serious players.
