PORVORIM: The Opposition on Thursday grilled Industries, Trade, and Commerce Minister Mauvin Godinho over gross discrepancies in details of projects approved and employment potential as approved by the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB).
The opposition also demanded single window clearances and details of the methodology adopted by the government to assess the potential of the notified Investment Promotion Areas (IPAs) to develop essential facilities like electricity, roads, water supply, etc.
Minister Godinho, responding to a question jointly tabled by MLAs Altone D’Costa, Venzy Viegas, Cruz Silva, and Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, stated that the figures were estimated based on proposals cleared by the IPB. He emphasised that while Goa’s land parcels are diverse, construction would focus on designated zones, leaving ecologically sensitive areas untouched.
Providing statistics, the Minister reported that since 2014, 7,872 individuals had been employed through IPB-approved industries, with 3,242 Goans and 4,630 non-Goans. Since 2019, 21 IPB-approved units were operational, employing 3,828 individuals, including 1,511 Goans and 2,317 non-Goans. Godinho assured the House of government efforts to increase Goan employment from 40% to 60%.
However, the opposition members pointed out that figures submitted during the session held in July last year were not in sync with those submitted in the current session of the assembly. They also pointed out that of the 6.41 lakh square meters of land that had been notified as Investment Promotion Zone in the last five years, 3.82 lakh square meters falls under natural cover, orchards, fields, irrigation command area, and even in close proximity to protected monuments.
The Opposition Leader said that the details of employment given by the Minister were not correct since the Goa-IPB is in the process of collecting data on the number of Goans and non-Goans employed in projects approved by the IPB. The IPB does not maintain a detailed record of employees, he said pointing to the written reply given by the Minister.
