lGFDC got 36% increase in receipts from cashew auctions l Record revenue of Rs 1.40 crore from cashew plantation auctions in 2014 l One of the best performing government undertakings this year l Rise in income is due to a change in the system
ALVARO COLACO
teamherald@herald-goa.com
CORTALIM: Chairmen and director-positions on government boards and corporations are generally reserved for rewarding elected legislators and top rung leaders of the ruling dispensation to enjoy position and perks associated with the office.
Those nominated seldom actively involve themselves with business development of the undertakings, leaving policy making and management to the bureaucracy to handle.
However, the non-official directors of the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) have proved to be different from the rest of the pack.
Faced with falling revenues and a flurry of litigation from auction holders in 2012-13 due to sudden cancellation of leases, the GFDC Board appointed a sub-committee chaired by Director Savio Correia, along with Manoday Phadte, Ganesh Gaonkar and Vikas Deykar, to study the performance and working of the Corporation’s cashew plantations and recommend measures to streamline the allotment process and enhance revenues. Implementation of the recommendations earned rich dividends in the crop 2014 season with a huge 36 per cent increase in receipts from cashew auctions. GFDC realized record revenue of Rs 1.40 crore from cashew plantation auctions in crop season 2014 as compared to Rs 1.03 crore in the previous year with nil litigation, making it one of the best performing government undertakings this year.
The Directors report suggested measures to optimize cashew operations and introduce competitive bidding procedures while delicately balancing the social objectives, it is learnt. Taking note of the success, GFDC board at its last meeting decided to bring the policy devised by the directors to the notice of the government for possible implementation in other corporations, while appreciating the efforts of Managing Director S K Agarwal IFS and General Manager Dr Francis Coelho for the resultant gain.
GTDC Chairman Pradeep Desai said that the corporations rise in income is because it brought a change in the system.
“We ensured that the leases were given to the highest bidder so as to ensure that the corporation drives maximum income from its leases,” Desai told Herald.
In addition to cashew revenues, GFDC’s other operational revenues in 2012-13 included Rs 39.18 lakh from rubber products and Rs 1.70 lakh from sale of cashew grafts, etc. It has diversified into public gardens development and maintenance, with the botanical garden at Selaulim Dam as its flagship project. While it maintains the landscaping at the Assembly Complex at Porvorim, the Corporation also developed and maintained the ‘Garcia da Horta’ in the capital until recently.
GFDC was constituted from the erstwhile cashew division of Goa Forest Department and incorporated under the Companies Act in April 1997 with then Forest Minister Luis Alex Cardoso as its first Chairman. The Corporation is presently headed by Sanvordem ZP member Pradeep T Dessai besides Principal Secretary (Forests) and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests as official Directors.
