The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has asked the state government to appoint an independent agency to probe the alleged irregularities in land allotment in its various industrial estates by government officials.

The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has been drawing criticism for glaring misdeeds in land allotment at various industrial estates across the state, which has resulted in land shortage for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The GCCI President, Mr Manguirish Pai Raiker, said he has asked the state government to hold a thorough inquiry by an independent agency into the land allotment.

He has also said the task force formed to give factual position on the plots availability and allotment at these industrial enclaves should submit its report quickly.

A senior official attached to GIDC was suspended on Thursday after several industrialists voiced their concern on the illegalities and non-transparency in the state-run GIDC.

Mr William Borges, working as deputy general manager with GIDC, was suspended “for various irregularities and misuse of power’’.

Mr Raiker said “the buck should not stop with Borges’’. “All those involved in irregularities should go home after proper inquiry,” he said.

The GCCI former chief, Mr Nitin Kuncolinkar, recently, had said that there were more than 100 applicants waiting for the plots in industrial estates.

“The Corporation has to come out with a well designed policy for allotment of the plots,” he had said.

Goa has 13 industrial estates but places like Verna and Kundaim are most sought after by the investors.

“There are lot of land holdings in Verna industrial estate. The government should not allow land holding for speculative gains,” he had added.

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