31,000 sq mt land re-alloted for IT habitat in Goa
The Goa Government has re-allotted nearly 31,000 sq mt land at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula near Panaji. The project had been ridden with controversies since its inception and had been stalled twice, first in December 2007 due to violent protests by the locals led by local MLA Atanasio Monserrate and later abandoned in the middle of infrastructure development.
An area of over 90 acres has been utilized for The Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat. It is strategically located at Dona Paula on the outskirts of the city.
The present Government had earlier cancelled all the land allotments after coming to power in March 2012 State Assembly elections. Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister of Goa said after announcing the re-allotment of plots, “These are the plots which are not stuck in court and involved 31,073 sq mt. They will be re-allotted on a as is where is basis.”
Rs. 25,000/sq mt has been set as the reserve price and the plots are to be allotted for use only for IT and IT-enabling services. He further said that as of now they had paid a total of Rs. 148 crore to various allottees out of which Rs. 119 crore was taken as loan.
IT Habitat was sub-divided into 18 plots ranging from 4,000 to 40,000 sq. mt. Four sub-divided plots were also kept for supporting facilities. Out of the 18 plots, 16 were allotted along with the 4 sub-divided plots that were meant for infrastructure projects from 2006 and 2007.
The allotments were, however, cancelled after allegations of scams and allegations of several financial defaults, violations of the Terms and Conditions of the Lease Deed by the allottees.
Info Tech Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITG), the State-owned IT was directed by the State Government to refund the entire premium, lease rent/license fees, security deposit, installments received from the allottees till the date of cancellation along with simple interest at the rate of 10 per cent a year. Entire amount has been refunded the to all the plot allottees except two who have gone to court.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
Atanasio Monserrate, Chief minister, Dona Paula, Goa Government, Info Tech Corporation of Goa Ltd, ITG, Manohar Parrikar, Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat
