SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s illness has taken a toll on investment proposals worth over Rs 6000 crore, which are awaiting an in-principle approval of the Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB), as it has not met since the Chief Minister’s absence from the State. Parrikar is the chairman of IPB.
The last meeting of the IPB was scheduled to take place on February 14 but was called off at the last minute after the Chief Minister took ill. Parrikar was later taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) for treatment, before being shifted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15. The Chief Minister is currently undergoing treatment in the USA.
Sources reveal that in absence of the IPB Chairman, the Board cannot call for a meeting. “Nearly 70 projects, consisting of hotels and eco-resorts, are pending for consideration and in-principle approval for the last three months,” sources said.
The 69 projects, which include luxury resorts, eco-tourism concepts, milk product units, bakery item units, etc, have a total proposed investment of Rs 6083.83 crore with an employment potential of 18,592 persons.
Among these is the Amusement Park and Entertainment centre at Morjim, the biggest project with an investment of Rs 1006 crore and possible employment generation for 4000 persons.
The last meeting of the IPB was held on December 8, 2017, wherein the Board had withdrawn in-principle permissions granted to 17 projects falling under the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) areas. The Board had even resolved not to grant any more permissions to projects in such prohibited areas.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) ambitious ropeway project from Panjim to Reis Magos, marina project proposed at Sancoale in Mormugao by Yacht Heaven Pvt Ltd and one at Nauxi in North, Mini India Park proposed at Quelossim were amongst those projects whose permissions were withdrawn.
The IPB, constituted in October 2014 as per the Goa Investment Promotion Act, has so far granted in-principle permissions to 156 projects with a total investment of Rs 12,374.36 crore, of which permissions for 17 projects were withdrawn later.
Also another 13 projects with a total investment of Rs 1308.42 crores are referred to Satellite Consultant for examination.
