Team Herald
PANJIM: Hinting at the possibility of reviewing the controversial alcohol and brewery industry by Vani Agro Pvt Ltd at Amdai in Sanguem, the coalition partners of the BJP-led government on Friday said that red industries are not in the interest of the State and government will not allow such projects.
“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, should be scrapped. Things which are not in the interest of the people of Goa and Goans, will not be allowed,” Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, who on Friday was appointed Vice Chairman of the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPFB), said.
He said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is on record to state that he will review IPFB proposals approved so far. “The proposal is part of our CMP,” he said.
“I always said that the Investment Promotion Act was good but not put in right place and the right priorities were not defined by them. Now the new Board will definitely look into all those aspects. Industries not in the interest of State, not in the interest of local employment, won’t be allowed,” Khaunte said.
The IPFB under then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar granted in-principle approval to Delhi based Vani Agro to set up an alcohol and brewery industry at Amdai. The move saw protests from the villagers as well as then opposition members Khaunte and Vijai Sardesai. Despite the opposition, the government had gone ahead with the project and got all the sanctions.
“IPFB 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 category industries in Goa in the name of IPB, employment and investment,” Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said.
“We will review the projects which are under red category. This is our strong demand and the same will find place in the CMP,” he said.
The TCP Minister further said that his department would not grant permissions to such projects. “At the same time, any projects that require permissions for zonal changes and approved by IPFB, we will have to re-examine on a case-to-case basis and clear it till the Regional Plan is finalised,” he said.
