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ON TRAIL OF VITAL PAPERS
* If there are clauses to prevent the resale of the land, these could be activated, says revenue department official
* Possiblity of a clause mandating reversion of land to govt in the event of change of hands
* The lands in question come under the purview of the Revenue Department as they are outside the industrial estate
* Sources say that if the clauses prevent the sale or transfer of land, the transaction could be prevented
* Industries dept says it expects the management to write to them. "The change of hands has taken place only recently”
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STATE GOVT HAS LIMITED
ROLE: CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar reiterated that the State government would have no role to play in allowing or preventing the sale of a plant in the state from one company to another. He however said that the State government would come in the picture if the new owners decide to change the nature of the plant. “As long as the plant continues to do the same thing but under a different management, the government will have no role,” Chief Minister Parsekar said.
“But if they decide to manufacture something else, it will trigger the state government’s regulatory role,” Parsekar said.
The car which was proceeding from Cortalim to Margao also knocked down a parked two-wheeler, causing minor injuries to the rider.
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PANAJI: As the imroglio over the sale Syngenta unit at Corlim reaches its crescendo, the Goa government has said that it is in the process of tracing a file containing the original deed finalised with the then owners Ciba-Geigy “ a pharmaceutical and cosmetic company at Corlim, way back in 1969 to examine whether any clauses relating to change in hands of the land were in place, sources in the revenue department have revealed.
The issue has come into spotlight after locals from Corlim have opposed the sale of the Goa Unit by Syngenta AG (formerly owned by Ciba Geigy) to Deccan Fine Chemicals on grounds of the new company having history in industrial accidents.
“We are in the process of tracing the file. If there are clauses to prevent the resale of the land, these could be activated,” a revenue department official said hinting that it was possible there would be a clause mandating that in the event of change of hands the land would be reverted to the government.
The Corlim land was among the first lands to be given to industry by the Goa Government then headed by its first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar in 1969. The lands were given along with land in Zuari to Zuari Agro Chemicals, in Usgao to MRF and in Sinquerim to Taj hotels and were the first industries to set up shop in the state.
This would be the second time the plant has changed hands. The industries department has reiterated that it hasn’t been informed about the change of hands since it was still early stages since the sale was cleared.
“We expect the management to write to us. The change of hands has taken place only recently,” official of the industries department said.
A meeting organised by local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar opposed the change of hands of the Goa Unit and criticised the government for failing to intervene in the matter.
The lands in question come under the purview of the Revenue Department as they are outside the industrial estate. Sources have said that if the clauses prevent the sale or transfer of land, the transaction could be prevented.
Earlier in the day, officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, have reiterated that the plant would have to apply for a fresh consent from the GSPCB if they are changing the nature of the plant, the products they manufacture or if they seek to expand the capacity.
“If the plant continues to run under the new management with the same staff and processing the same products, there is no need for a fresh consent from the GSPCB,” an official who didn’t wish to be named said.
The issue was earlier raised by Madkaikar in the assembly with the government then claiming that it had not received any representation or intimation about the sale of chemical factory Syngenta located at Corlim to Deccan Fine Chemicals and hence is not presently seized with the issue.
Madkaikar raise the issue “since the company deals with chemicals, the people of the area are not satisfied with the safety measures of the above company as the area is thickly populated and surrounded by many schools.
