ACB to expedite probe in SEZ scam, submit report in 30 days: CM

Cornered on the issue of illegal allotment of land to companies for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said the ACB which is probing the case would be asked to expedite the investigation and submit their report within 30 days.

"The FIR is filed by ACB against those who are responsible for illegal allotment of land to SEZ promoters. I will ask them to expedite the investigation and submit the preliminary report in 30 days," Parsekar told the state Assembly responding to a Question by Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho.

Godinho had demanded action against those responsible for giving 38,000 lakh square metres of land to SEZ promoters claiming that the entire scam is worth Rs 40,000 crore.

Industries Minister Mahadev Naik initially responding to the question said the land was allotted to the promoter by then government in 2006.

He admitted that the allotment was illegal and has resulted in shrinking of the existing land available for industrialisation in the state.

As Godinho kept on pressing for action against "those involved in the scam", the Chief Minister told the House that the SEZ promoters have moved to the Supreme Court and state government is open for out-of-court settlement with them.

"Total 15-20 percent of the land allotted to them can be allowed to be retained and rest 80 percent can be taken back without paying them any amount," he said, even as Godinho suggested that state should not go for out-of-court settlement as Supreme Court may rule in favour of the government.