SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PORVORIM: Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho announced on Friday that the Goa Industrial Growth and Investment Promotion Policy 2022 will be amended to ensure that new industries employ locals across all sectors after giving them proper training. He also stated that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will conduct a Digital Global Positioning System (DGPS)survey of all industrial estates to identify vacant plots and encroachments.
During the Question Hour, the Minister acknowledged that the current Industrial Policy's provision of 60% incentives for industries employing locals will not work out well. The Minister was responding to an accusation made by the Fatorda MLA that over seven lakh sq mtrs of land is being converted for IPB projects but has not created a single job for locals. Godinho responded that the IndustriesDepartment is working to revamp infrastructure across all industrial estates and that the DGPS survey of estates will be conducted shortly.
“This will help us identify the number of vacant plots, land availability, and encroachments.Within six months it will be completed, and all the information will be made public through the IDC website,” he said.
The Minister addressed concerns raised by Congress MLAAlton D’Costa and BJP MLA Rajesh Phal Dessai regarding the Quittol and Corlim IndustrialEstates. Quepem MLA D’Costa inquired about government plans to develop 8.83 lakh sq mtrs of area at Quittal, which was acquired way back in 2008 and was used once for Defence Expo.
The Minister said that the government is considering welcoming projects such as entertainment parks, theme parks, toy manufacturing, drone manufacturing, etc., which are non-polluting and capable of generating maximum employment at Quittol Industrial Estate.
Regarding Corlim Industrial Estate, Godinho stated that ofthe 107 industries, 86 are operational, and 21 are not functioning. However,MLA Rajesh Phal Dessai claimed that 70 units in the Estate are not functional and criticized the Minister for not taking him into confidence, and not even inviting him during his visit to the Industrial Estate.
