Nearly 100 units set up by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in Daman and Diu are facing an uncertain future as their leases, most of them signed 30 years ago and expired in 2015, are yet to be renewed.

Procedural delays between Daman & Diu Administration and Goa-GIDC have spelt trouble for the industrial units as bankers and financial institutions are demanding new leases.

Back in 1985 — when Goa, Daman and Diu (GD&D) was a Union Territory — the IDC, which was the UT’s industry promotion corporation, had set up an industrial estate in Daman and Diu. The land, an area measuring 68,000 sq. metres was acquired in Daman by the then UT Administration, and handed over to IDC, which allotted the plots to investors. When Goa became a State in 1987, Daman and Diu continued to be a UT, and IDC was converted into Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC). But, the IDC continued its jurisdiction over Daman & Diu industrial estates.

When the leases expired in 2015, 18 industrial investors approached Assocham national chairman of SMEs Committee Manguirish Pai Raikar to intervene as they were not getting any answer over renewal or termination of their leases by the Daman administration.

Pai Raikar, who has been helping these industrialists, many of whose units have turned sick over the years, told The Hindu group last week that he approached the administration of Daman and Diu but was in turn directed to approach the Deputy Collector regarding procurement of the lease papers from GIDC. However, Deputy Collector Uttam Tyagi told him that no papers regarding IDC’s lease agreements were available with his department as handing over had not taken place.

While Pai Raikar was in Daman, a group of farmers approached him and complained that they were yet to get the compensation for their land acquired by GD&D administration prior to 1985.

When asked by Mr. Pai Raikar, the Deputy Collector admitted that the award was not finalised, and pleaded helplessness saying the issue was in a limbo.

Responding to queries from The Hindu group, Goa GIDC Managing Director S.V. Naik admitted to “procedural delay” in handover, but said that both the governments are in the know. He said the delay has taken place because DD administration has still not agreed to several requests by the GIDC for extension of leases, so that the GIDC can handover every aspect of the Daman and Diu industrial estates.

On their part, the DD administration has told GIDC that they cannot give extension as long as handover is done by GIDC.

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