PANAJI, NOVEMBER 12: Intensifying its opposition to the proposed ₹140-crore IT International Convention Centre at Tuem, the Tuem Nagrik Samiti has served a formal pre-litigation notice on Goa’s Chief Secretary, demanding an immediate stay and cancellation of the re-floated tender for the controversial project at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Pernem.

The Samiti has questioned the legality of handing over 23,988 square metres of centrally funded industrial land to a private concessionaire for 60 years under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop a luxury hotel, shopping mall, food courts, banquet halls and an amphitheatre.

The notice contends that the proposed development violates the fundamental purpose for which the EMC land was acquired and developed with central government assistance.

According to the Samiti, the Goa Electronics Manufacturing Cluster Land Allotment Policy, 2020, earmarks the land for electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) and directly associated industrial activities. Diverting nearly 24,000 square metres for a predominantly commercial hospitality and retail project would defeat the original objective of promoting electronics manufacturing and generating employment for local youth, it argued.

60-Year Lease Raises Serious Questions

The Samiti pointed out that the Tuem EMC has not yet been formally commissioned and that electronics manufacturing units have not commenced operations. Despite this, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (DITEC) re-floated the Request for Proposal (RFP) on October 30, 2026, extending the proposed concession period from 30 to 60 years, with a 51 per cent private equity stake.

The organisation questioned the government’s priorities in promoting a massive commercial complex before establishing the industrial activities for which the EMC was originally conceived.

It also highlighted that the Village Panchayat of Tuem had already passed a formal resolution opposing the project. The Samiti alleged that proceeding with the development without necessary Panchayat clearances, Town and Country Planning approvals and adequate assessments of water availability, sewage management and village road capacity would violate applicable statutory requirements.

Centre Accused of Ignoring Complaint

The Samiti further expressed dissatisfaction with the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), alleging that its earlier complaint concerning violations of central EMC guidelines was merely forwarded to the Goa government without an independent inquiry.

It has now demanded an independent investigation outside DITEC into the proposed commercial use of industrial land developed with central funding.

Warning Against Creation of Third-Party Rights

In its notice, the Samiti warned the Chief Secretary, DITEC and MeitY against proceeding with the opening of financial bids, issuing a Letter of Award or executing a 60-year concession agreement.

It maintained that any such action would be undertaken at the administration’s own risk and that neither the government nor a successful private bidder should expect to rely on third-party rights to defeat a subsequent legal challenge.

“Public land acquired and developed with central grant money for electronics manufacturing and local youth employment cannot be quietly converted into a 60-year commercial hotel and shopping mall deal before a single factory is operational,” the Samiti stated.

Tuem Nagrik Samiti Secretary Jose C. Lobo said the organisation had urged the Chief Secretary to intervene immediately, order an independent inquiry and scrap the tender.

The Samiti has given the state government 15 days to stay the tender process, failing which it has warned of appropriate legal proceedings.

The controversy has once again raised questions about the government’s decision to prioritise commercial development within the Tuem EMC despite opposition from the local Panchayat and residents.