MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Sunday questioned whether Zuari’s "Slump sale” is part of putting Goa on a “Fast track sale” even as he demanded that Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane should investigate Zuari’s zone change in suspended Vasco ODP and revert back the same.
He said Zuari Agro Chemicals had announced on June 1 the completion of the SLUMP SALE of its fertilizer plant and associated business to Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, an unlisted JV for Rs 2135 Cr.
“This is a SLUMP SALE/ PPL is going to fund the acquisition by a mix of equity, debt and internal accruals. On Oct 19, 2019, then Industries Minister Vishwajit Rane reacting to reports of ZACL shutting down operations had said that the government should come out with an ordinance and take back the 1000 acres of land given to the company (during the tenure of Bausaheb Bandodker) for industrial purpose,” he said.
He added: “Presently Vishwajit Rane is the TCP Minister and is seen on media to be very active to right the wrongs done in ODPs which the government has kept on hold. I think Vishwajit Rane should go back memory lane and with the same enthusiasm check whether in the Vasco ODP, also kept on hold by him, the said Zuari land gifted for industrial purposes, has its zoning changed for settlement/residential purpose.”
Sardesai has further questioned: “If so, what Goa gains out of this whole transaction especially from the transfer of land? Or is Zuari’s slump sale part of putting Goa on a fast track sale? And has someone got equity or has accrued some advantage to facilitate the same?
He said Goemkars (Comunidade Gaonkars) had sacrificed their land for industry in 1968 to bring overall prosperity of Goa. He added: “Government of Goa today should at least show the concern and duty to Goa like then. Question is has a public interest venture now converted into a private interest venture by equity transactions? Is Bandodkar’s vision of an industrial Goa being erased?"
