Fear of attacks keeps firms away from Goa IT Park

PANAJI, INDIA: Information Technology (IT) companies are dithering from developing plots at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat near Panaji for "fear of being attacked", an opposition leader said here on Monday.

The much touted Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat was inaugurated with much fanfare by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in 2007. But according to the government, not one of the 14 companies which bought plots at the Habitat till date "has commenced any development on the plot".

"The IT industries are not coming to the Habitat because they fear being attacked," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said on Monday in the assembly during question hour.

In 2007, state Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate along with his supporters had assaulted Youth Congress workers, while they were peacefully demanding the start of Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology (IT) as soon as possible.

Opposition from state Education Minister

After its inauguration, the IT Habitat project was struggling to take off in face of fierce opposition from Monserrate, who is also local legislator.

Although the minister was booked for the assault, the opposition has alleged that police had gone slow in the investigations.

Lotus Technobuild, Financial technologies, Ampersand Digimedia and Entertainment, CNS Infotech were among the 14 companies that bought plots at the Habitat.

Minutes of a Goa Info Tech Corporation (GITC) board meeting, which were tabled in the state assembly on Monday painted a grim picture of the IT Habitat.

"There is no required protection at site in respect of all losses or threat to life of any employees/agents etc., or occurrence of any adverse incident as a result of commencement of construction on the property," the board minutes said, quoting complaints from the companies which had invested in the Habitat.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat assured the house that the government was willing to "consider" making security arrangement for companies which wanted to develop their IT plots.