Aliya Abreu
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat expressed that the manner in which the SEZ promoters had been settled was not in keeping with the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) Act.
Kamat raised the question of the settlement of the SEZ promoters both in the monsoon Assembly Session in July 2019, as well as the three-day Assembly session in January 2019, when Manohar Parrikar was Chief Minister.
“I had specifically asked if there was any provision in the rules and regulations of the GIDC to pay the interest to the promoters when the plot is surrendered or taken back by the government. The reply given to me was “No.” They have clearly put on record that there is no provision in their guidelines/rules and regulations for interest to be paid to promoters,”Kamat told The Goan, stressing that “under no circumstances” could the payment of interest to the SEZ promoters be justified.
Parrikar had in the January 2019 session said that the resolution to pay the promoters interest was passed by the GIDC Board in its 356th meeting held on 27 April 2018. Parrikar, who held the Industries portfolio, also enclosed the resolution of the Board.
But Kamat questions how, when the guidelines don’t permit it, can a decision of this sort be taken. “After the GIDC decision to pay the promoters interest, the Cabinet approved this decision. They think that once the Cabinet approves it, it is alright. But I want to know how the Cabinet can approve a decision taken by the GIDC Board, which by-passes its own rules and regulations,” said Kamat who is also not satisfied with the answers given to him by current Industries Minister Vishwajit Rane in the Assembly.
“Vishwajit just avoided the issue saying that the SEZ matter was settled before he took over. But I told him that government is a continuous process and that if something wrong has been done, he needs to rectify it,”
Kamat said.
Further, Kamat pointed out that the High Court judgement categorically said that allotment of land to the promoters was illegal. “If the Court says that the judgement was illegal, then the maximum that can be allotted to the promoters is the principal amount, so where is the question of paying them interest?” he demanded.
When asked if he looked at it as a “double scam”, Kamat said that he did not believe in labeling it. “I’m putting on record the wrong things done by them. I’ve told them to rectify it. But Vishwajit has said that he’s not going to interfere with anything now and that those who want to challenge the payment made to the promoters can go to Court. He’s insisting he was not party to the decision made by the previous government, and is questioning the need for him to go into the deeds of the previous government,” Kamat said.
When asked if he would continue pursuing the matter as Leader of Opposition, Kamat said that he has not yet decided what to do. “It’s a collective decision that the party will take,” he said.
