PANJIM: Goa Industries Development Corporation (GIDC) chairman Glenn Ticlo on Friday said he was not getting support from the government and that it is becoming very difficult for him to operate.
“I never got support after the ex-Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar fell sick. Thereafter, our dynamic Chief Minister and Industry Minister came in but I need space and freedom to work if I need to improve. There is too much of interference from the department and it has become very difficult for me to work,” Ticlo said candidly in a press conference.
He went on to add that he needs the files sent by GIDC to be cleared by the department immediately. “I do my follow-up but the files are stuck. I need space to work and I will prove it. If they want another chairman, I have no issues with that. If I am not capable go and tell the CM to remove me,” Ticlo said at a press conference.
The media interaction was called mainly on the account of reports in the media where Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) president Damodar Kochkar, who is also a GIDC Board member, levelled allegations of corruption.
“His allegations of corruption shocked and surprised me. I wonder what corruption is he talking about and being an active board member and the president of the GSIA if there are any issues like this he should raise it in the board here which can be discussed. We had a board meeting recently but this topic never came up. I am going to issue a show cause notice to him to explain his allegation. It is not acceptable at all,” Ticlo said.
Ticlo added that in the allotment of plots, Kochkar is one of the six members of the screening committee and that if he speaks about corruption he is the one who should ensure that there is no corruption. To allot there are point system and anyone can strongly object. “In case Kockhkar is unfit, he should not be in the board of GIDC. I am wondering whether he is against the GIDC board, GIDC chairman, Chief Minister or against the government. It is only politics. Let him come out clear,” Ticlo said.
GSIA and GCCI presidents are automatically members of the nine-member board of GIDC and Kochkar joined this board in August last year.
Explaining what measures he had taken to improve transparency in GIDC, Ticlo said, “In fact, I have already started to look into everything wherever anything wrong is happening. We have launched online services but very few units are coming forward to use it.”
