By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 21, 2022
Agartala, August 21: A local court on Saturday sealed the offices of Chairman and the Managing Director of Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) as the corporation did not pay dues of land for a plot of land which was acquired for Bodhjungnagar Industrial Growth Centre in 2016.
TIDC bought the land in 2016, but the owner filed suit against the corporation on the plea that the compensation paid to him was not satisfactory.
“The aggrieved party filed a land acquisition case for enhancement of compensation and a lower court passed an order enhancing the compensation quantum in September, 2019 and directed the judgment debtor – TIDC to make the payment. Dissatisfied by the impugned judgment and order, the Corporation moved the High Court and contested the order in 2021”, the special Secretary of the state Industries and Commerce department, Abhishek Chandra told reporters.
He also said while the lower court instructed the Corporation to pay Rs. 4.79 crores as enhanced compensation, the latter deposited a part payment of Rs. 1,28,27,500 at the time of filing the appeal to the High Court as directed by it.
Meanwhile, the TIDC received order sheets from the lower court over the land compensation case where the Corporation was asked to pay the awarded amount. The High Court’s concerned penal lawyer was asked to seek a stay order from the High Court and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) from the TIDC visited the High Court on August 18 this year to submit an affidavit seeking stay of the lower court’s judgment.
Two days later, the bailiff of the lower court approached the TIDC office with attachment orders, where the concerned judge had directed the Corporation to pay Rs. 4.79 crores in full, failing which the bailiff was authorized to attach movable properties of the Industrial Development Corporation.
Special Secretary Chandra said though the High Court didn’t issue a specific stay order on the lower court verdict, the latter “could have” waited keeping the spirit of the High Court order in notice.
“We have complied with all the orders given to us. In case we didn’t, we contested the order and moved the High Court, where it is being heard. We shall attend the lower court on Monday and bring our issues to the Court’s notice”, he said.
Tripura has currently got 8 sanctioned industrial growth centers including four fully functional ones. Among the operational growth centers, Bodhjungnagar Industrial Growth Center and RK Nagar Industrial Growth Centers in West Tripura district are arguably the most successful ones.
The move to seal the MD and chairman’s offices come shortly after Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha today visited the Bodhjungnagar Industrial Growth Center and expressed anguish at complaints of lack of security, power, gas supplies and said his government would ensure no disturbance occurs in industrial growth centers ahead.
Earlier today, CM Dr. Manik Saha visited the industrial growth center and flagged four issues as “very important” problems faced by industrialists at the growth centre and asked officials to take immediate and tern action to ensure law and order, security on site.
“Security aspect, boundary infrastructure, power and gas supplies are very important issues. If there is lack of security, industries can’t be developed. That is final. I’m surprised to see there is no police action despite repeated FIRs. This should be seen to; it should not happen. I assure action will be taken. Some people are breaking the boundary wall again and again. Whoever is behind it, they should be booked immediately.. clear cut”, he said.
The CM also asked the police to take stern action and said, “If they terrorize, you (police) terrorize them, so that they don’t dare to come here and enter. Otherwise, they (industrialists) can’t work”.
The CM’s comments come in reference to a few cases of alleged violence around Bodhjungnagar area including murders.
CM Saha also said infrastructure would be upgraded soon to ensure 24x7 uninterrupted power supply and gas supplies to the growth centre to achieve his government’s goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Tripura’.
Bodhjungnagar Growth center spans across 535.75 acre land in Jirania Sub-Division, 15 Km from here, and has got around 78 industrial units including food park, rubber park, export promotion industrial park and a bamboo park. The growth centre is run 100 percent by centrally sponsored scheme with a total project cost of Rs. 15 crores. It has also got an industrial tool room and a training center in the pipeline.
Shortly after assuming office in 2018, the BJP-IPFT government announced to set up four new industrial estates at Unakoti, Gomati, Dhalai and West Tripura districts. FD JK