In one stroke, two ministers of the Parrikar government, Rohan Khaunte and Vijai Sardesai, have actually underlined the failings of the controversial Investment Promotion Board by asking for reforms and changes. This is something that Herald had been insisting all along the tenure of the previous government. While reconstituting the IPB is perhaps one step towards restructuring the IPB and making it a vehicle of delivering investment and jobs, it is equally important to course correct if the IPB has gone beyond its mandate and cleared projects which are not meant to be cleared.
And it is indeed refreshing that the Vice Chairman of the IPB who is also the IT minister Rohan Khaunte and the TCP minister Vijai Sardesai have specifically targeted the controversial red category project, the beer and alcohol plant of Vani Agro coming up in Amdai Sanguem.
The Vice Chairman of the IPB Rohan Khaunte was clear and as we have reported, said, “In our common minimum programme (CMP) we have already outlined certain issues. Certain models which are not in the interest of the State, like red category industries, and they should be scrapped. Things which are not in the interest of people of Goa and Goans, will not be allowed.
TCP minister Vijay Sardesai said, IPFB (as IPB is now known) should not be a route for promoting pollution, non people friendly industries in the State. “This is my strong demand that we cannot allow red categroy industries in Goa in the name of IPB, employement and investment.”
The changes are obvious. What is fundamentally unacceptable is being voiced. A red category industry and too an alcohol plant at Amdai is unacceptable and it was Herald which went to Amdai and first uncovered the story of the beer and alcohol factory there. Strong ministerial voices are therefore welcome
For the Goa Forward the Vani Agro project strikes a raw nerve since it is deeply linked to its principle agitation against de-classifying the coconut tree which left so many families totally vulnerable.
Firstly all such projects which against the mandate of the IPB and the people should be scrutinised. It is also welcome that the TCP department is being pro-active about this and not parroting only what the governments earlier position was.
It is indeed a great step forward that any projects that require permissions for zonal changes and approved by IPFB, we will have to re-examined it on a case to case basis and cleard it till the RP is finalised. This is an acknowledgement and an assurance that project proponents will no longer plan to use the IBP as a body to bypass the TCP, the panchayats the Pollution Control Board and all other bodies, but work in conjunction with them. While IPB will still be a facilitator, it cannot be a body to “bypass” key government departments.
But above all, the decision of the two ministers to seek real changes in a body meant to be facilitator of ethical business which would provide jobs has to be welcomed. Earlier there were no voices to articulate the gaps needed to be taken.
There is no time now. Goa, and its IPB needs to develop professionally and deliver efficiently but not as an ivory tower institution but a friendly stakeholder and helper, which will submit itself to the nuances and the laws of the land.
