MARGAO: The Legislative Assembly Public Utility Committee members Digambar Kamat, Clafasio Dias and Wilfred D’Sa visited the Verna and Cuncolim Industrial Estates on Wednesday to study the issues faced by people vis-a-vis the industries as well as the status of infrastructure in the industries.
In Verna, the committee members met the sarpanchas of Verna, Nagoa and Nuvem along with other members of the public at 10 am. The Verna sarpanch informed the committee that the Verna IDC has not paid the panchayat house tax which IDC collects from the industries within the estate on behalf of the panchayat.
The representatives of taxi and pick-up truck association also expressed their grievances that the industries are hiring vehicles from outside. They informed that the officers in these industries purchase vehicles and rent it out to their industries, thus denying them their livelihood.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that preference must be given to locals and asked the IDC officials to give him a list of all the staff working in the industries, how many Goans are hired and also the list of taxis, buses and pickup trucks hired by the industries.
The PUC members were shocked to know that raw water which is supplied by PWD for Rs 25 per cubic meter is sold to pharma companies at Rs 32 per cubic meter and to other industries at a whopping Rs 64 per cubic meter.
Damodar Kockhar, president of Verna Industries Association said since IDC is charging a high price for raw water, most industries are still using water from borewells, which costs Rs 10 per cum. There are nearly 180 bore wells in Verna IDC but the information given to the PUC stated that there were around 30 bore wells in Verna.
Aliette Heredia informed the committee about a marine institution operating in the IDC.
“Around 150 students are studying in the institute”.
Kamat asked the officials for the rules under which IDC plots could be converted to set up residential institutions.
Franky Monteiro from Loutolim informed that the mobile towers in IDC, which are operated on utility plot by private individuals, are causing a loss to IDC.
The committee then visited three sites including the marine institution. At one site (Plot 9,10,11), they were shocked to find massive landfilling of more than 10 feet along a slope.
Kamat said that the filling is a threat to the people living down the hill.
At around 330 pm, the committee members visited Cuncolim Industrial Estate. Kamat noted that the condition of the roads is bad.
Stanley Colaco, Field Manager of Cuncolim IDC informed that he has sent the report for tendering more than one and a half year ago.
Colaco informed that they are waiting for consent from the Industries Association. However, Kamat did not accept the response and asked the official whether this is a ploy to delay the works.
Kamat sought information about the power cuts in IDC.
Colaco informed that underground cabling works are on. However, the proposal to connect the IDC to the 220kv substation has been objected by WRD and IDC.
The IDC officials informed the committee that there were 39 bore wells in the IDC of which 19 are registered. Further, six projects did not fall in the category of industrial activity.
Locals raised the issue of the stench emanating from the water released from fish trucks transporting fish to the IDC. They claimed that a fish factory is releasing its water which is contaminating the surrounding wells.
Locals demanded an ambulance, fire brigade, bank and health centre in the IDC.
Lorna of the Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum made a representation seeking better safety standards for workers, constituting a sexual harassment committee in every industry and other amenities.
Both MLAs Clafasio Dias and Wilfred D’Sa assured that they will raise all the grievances received today, in the forthcoming Assembly session.
Kamat said that he will try to complete the report before December 15, 2018.
