Industry Bodies Oppose GIDC’s Move to Allot Plots for RMC Plants Inside Industrial Estates

Concerns are mounting over the Goa In dustrial Development Cor poration’s (GIDC) decision to allot plots for Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants in side industrial estates, with several industry associa tions warning that the move could disrupt clean-manu facturing clusters and cre ate pollution issues. In a joint representation to the GIDC, the Goa State In dustries Association (GSIA), the Kundaim Industrial Es tate Industries Association, and the Verna Industries As sociation have asked the Cor poration to review the allot ments of plots for RMC units proposed in Phase IV of the Verna Industrial Estate and at the Kundaim Industrial Estate. The letter points out that such units generate fine cement particles that can affect sensitive industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, packaging, and electronics, while slurry spills along roads damage infrastructure and create un hygienic conditions. “Several industries are facing operational issues and may consider relocat ing operations outside Goa,” said one of the signatories. Another industrialist noted that RMC units are often introduced through sub leases or changes in activity on existing plots, adding, “Such indirect entry of RMC plants creates pollution and operational problems for neighbouring units.” The matter was discussed at a recent GIDC board meet ing, where officials noted that any change in permissible activities within estates must comply with lease conditions and allotment regulations. “Any restriction or reclassi fication must be done with proper legal due diligence,” the Corporation stated. It may be noted that while RMC plants are currently listed as green or white cat egory units by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, some states — including Maharashtra — have reclas sified them as orange cate gory industries due to dust and particulate emissions. The associations have urged the GIDC to frame a clear policy on the location of such units and consider setting them up outside the main industrial estates to safeguard clean-manufac turing operations