Pratapsing Rane’s role comes to light
PANJIM, NOV 30
The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) land scam continued to get murkier with the information revealing that the then chief minister Pratapsing Rane too had recommended helping the SEZ promoters to get land in the State.
Herald on Tuesday had exposed a note by the then industries minister Luizinho Faleiro directing the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to allot land to Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd at Keri.
This paper has evidence that the same note was also signed by the then chief minister Pratapsing Rane.
Moreover, another letter in possession of Herald reveals that the K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd had written to the then CM on April 11, 2006, asking for allotment of land for IT/ ITES/ Biotech or other services.
“We express our keenness to be a part of the initiatives taken by the Government of Goa towards promoting information technology, biotechnology and other services,” the letter by Raheja reads adding “we take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as one of the leading real estate developers in the country, catering to the requirements of IT, retail and hospitality industry in various cities in India.”
Three days after the letter was received, Rane has put a remark to the managing director GIDC “Please help these people”.
Not only this, the then chief minister has also signed another note forwarded by the GIDC MD for allotment of land even before the then chief secretary could go through it.
SEZ promoter Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt had written to the then chief minister on March 13, 2006, asking for land for setting up Export Processing Zone for R & D Centre Bio-Technology Park at Sancoale following which the GIDC MD moved a note for the allotment of land to the company.
What is shocking in this is that the then chief minister had signed the note even before it went to the chief secretary.
While CM signed it on March 13, the CS signed it on March 14, 2006.
Ironically, the chief secretary has put an interesting comment on the letter.
“There are no Export processing Zones allowed by the GOI, only SEZs are allowed for which a consultant is being appointed and a project report in this regard will be sent to the Union Commerce Ministry for approval of SEZ”, the then CS said.
“…MD GIDC may examine all the implication on file and send it. If the said company desires to put SEZ it has to put an application to the government of Goa as per SEZ Act June 05 & SEZ rules 2006. MD IDC may advise them accordingly,” the chief secretary said in his noting on the file.
Efforts to contact Rane proved futile as his phone was continuously out of reach while there was no answer on any of the listed landline numbers.
It may be noted that the High Court of Bombay at Goa has already stated land allotments were arbitrary and does not stand the test of reasonableness.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party too has alleged a SEZ land scam to the tune of Rs 100 crore.
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