Goa PAC looking into irregularities in land allotment

After the illegal mining mess, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Goa assembly is investigating alleged irregularities committed by former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and his government in the allotment of land for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoters in the state.

After the illegal mining mess, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Goa assembly is investigating alleged irregularities committed by former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and his government in the allotment of land for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoters in the state.

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PAC chairman Manohar Parrikar said today that at the face of it, the scam is worth around Rs 51 Crore but it could be much more.

PAC has got on record figure of Rs 51 crore. We are collecting the information. The scam might be much bigger, he said.

Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report had pointed out that Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) had done a sale deed with four SEZ allottes for more area than approved by the board at lesser rates resulting in the loss of Rs 39.47 crore.

Parrikar said that GIDC is on record to state that it had given relaxations to SEZ promoters on the instructions of the then chief minister (Pratapsingh Rane) and industries minister (Luizinho Faleiro).

"CAG has clearly pointed out that the land was allotted without following proper procedure," he said.

Parrikar said that the land at Verna industrial estate was quoted at Rs 750 per square meter for the SEZ developers during the GIDC board meeting.

"But when actual allotment was done, it was given at Rs 600 per square meter," he added.

Goa government had formulated an SEZ policy in 2007 but later withdrew it in June 2009.

Three SEZs were notified by the Union ministry, which were later sent for denotification by the state government.