Reclaim jewellery park land for SMEs: Panchayat member

SURAT: A member of Surat district panchayat has alleged that diamond company owners in Surat and Mumbai have committed the biggest scam in government land allotted for setting up of gems and jewellery park at Ichhapore. He has demanded that the state government reclaim it for allotment to small business units in Hazira belt.
In a letter to district collector Darshan Nayak, member of Surat district panchayat has stated that Gujarat Hira Bourse (GHB) was allotted 100 hectare land at Ichhapore for setting up of the gems and jewellery SEZ park by the state government in 2004. The GHB was supposed to set up 350 manufacturing units at a cost of Rs 400 crore, carrying out diamond and jewellery exports to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore per annum and providing employment to 1 lakh people.
Spread over 100 hectare, the Gem & Jewellery Park comprised of SEZ and Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). Around 300 plus stakeholders from the industry, including many from Mumbai, had purchased plots in the park in 2005. In 2015-16, the GHB managed to get sanction of central government for denotification of SEZ at gems and jewellery park and the plots owned by diamantaires in Mumbai and Surat were sold and transferred to select few diamond company owners in Surat.
Nayak told TOI, “The very purpose behind land allotment by the state government is finished as the diamond company owners have sold the plots internally. During my visit, I found that one leading diamond company has constructed a huge lake spread over in several acres. This plot of land now is being used by him for hosting his private parties and water sports for family members. I have demanded that the state government reclaim the 100 hectare of land and allot it to unemployed youths and small and medium sized units of Hazira belt.”
When contacted, Surat district collector Mahendra Patel said, “I am yet to receive any complaint regarding the gems and jewellery park. But, we will surely look into the issue.”
GHB chairman Chandrakant Sanghavi was not available for comments.
by via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India