NT Reporter
Panaji
The Konkan Maritime Cluster, Goa’s first micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) cluster
has sought a waiver of Rs 67.9 lakh in penal interest imposed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) on outstanding land premium payments for its project at Verna industrial estate.
In its proposal, the cluster’s members, mainly owners of Goan shipyards, stated that they had paid Rs 2.4 crore of the total Rs 3 crore land premium, with the balance outstanding.
The members stated that the Common Facility Centre (CFC) could not begin commercial operations, leaving the special purpose vehicle (SPV) without revenue to meet its financial obligations. They attributed delays to the COVID-19 pandemic, delays in government machinery approvals and the release of payments.
The GIDC board is considering the waiver but has asked the promoters to continue paying the outstanding land premium instalments. It has decided not to insist on immediate payment of the penalty while the proposal remains under consideration.
The board noted that the promoters had invested their own funds in construction and infrastructure. The machinery tendering process is complete and the lowest bidders have been finalised.
Two of the three machines have been delivered, but commissioning is pending due to delays in departmental payments.
The project received Goa Investment Promotion Board approval on January 16, 2020, and the plot was allotted on June 19, 2020. Around 15,000 square metres was allotted for the CFC, which is intended to provide specialised machinery and infrastructure to maritime-sector MSMEs.
