Syngenta's land won't be transferred to chemical industry:Govt

Goa government today said the land at Corlim in northern part of the state, where the Switzerland-based Syngenta AG's unit stands, would not be transferred to any hazardous or polluting industry.
State Industries Minister Mahadev Naik told the Legislative Assembly that there was no proposal from Syngenta AG's unit in Goa to transfer the ownership to M/s Deccan Fine Chemicals (India) Pvt Ltd.
The statement comes amid reports that Syngenta is likely to sell its assets as well as the land at Corlim to the Visakhapatnam-based Deccan Fine Chemicals. The local residents are against this proposed move stating that the chemical companies could pose a health hazard.

"We have no intimation from the company management over the transfer of ownership from Syngenta India Ltd to Deccan Fine Chemicals (India) Pvt Ltd. We will take all the necessary precautions to ensure that the plant or land is not transferred to any hazardous or polluting industry," Naik told the House.
The issue was raised by Congress legislator Pandurang Madkaikar, who pointed out that the local residents are against the transfer.
Naik said authorities will examine the request to transfer, if company submits, whether it is in accordance to the law.
Raising the issue, Madkaikar had said the unit is being transferred to a "highly-polluting" industry.

He recalled that the state government had acquired and handed over the land for the industry in 1969 at "cheap" price of 25 paise per square metre.