from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Aug 15: Goa, which has failed to draw IT giants as they required huge land requirement, is attracting huge investments from several smaller companies.

IT-biggies like Wipro and Infosys have much bigger land requirement compared to the second rung companies, which are attracted towards this tiny western state, Information Technology Minister Dayanand Narvekar told reporters on Monday.

"Major players in IT require huge piece of land.. there will be a hue and cry in the state, if I start giving such huge pieces of land to IT giants", he said.

The IT minister said, the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat project, coming up at Panaji, has taken off after a little delay.

"About 1,84,000 sq mts land divided into 18 plots will be alloted on lease to various IT and IT-enabled services companies," he said.

Land allottment process has already started and IT companies like Ampersand Dig Media and Entertainment, Technology Option India Pvt Ltd, S A S Servizio Limited, have evinced interest, Narvekar stated.

For the first time, Goa is attracting such huge investment, he said, adding, "13,000 jobs would be created in the park,".

Besides various other firms, Goa's Devashri Real Estate, belonging to Dempo group of companies, has been alloted plot of 7,000 sq mts, he said.

Leading real estate companies like Pawa International, who are in the business of providing large built up space for IT industries, have been allocated 40,000 sq mts, the minister added.