Pilerne IE stakeholders highlight issues hampering growth

TEAM HERALD

PORVORIM: Industrialists at Pilerne Industrial Estate (PIE) have demanded increase in ground coverage by 20 per cent for the purpose of expansion of business and also additional power and water supply.

In a meeting convened with Industries Minister Mahadev Naik and Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar at Pilerne Industrial Estate on Monday, the industrialists highlighted the problems faced by them.

Pilerne Industrial Estate Association member Avinash Bonsle said the industries may be permitted to increase the ground coverage from the existing 50 per cent to 70 per cent to enable the industries to expand their business. “The industries should also be permitted to provide bachelor accommodation to their workers,” said Bhonsle.

Bhonsle further said there is power shedding twice a week, due to which the industrial production suffers a setback. “If the industrialists approach the power department for additional power supply for the purpose of expansion, the electricity department express its inability to release additional power stating that they have reached the point of saturation,” he said.

“The industries do not receive sufficient raw water and hence have to depend on water tanks. The government should look into the matter of disposing garbage lying in around Pilerne Industrial Estate. The existing approach to the industrial estate from Saligao is narrow and there is a need to construct a separate road from Gautam Hotel in Sangolda to Pilerne Seminary,” said Bhonsle.

Industries Minister Naik said he was not aware of the problems being faced by the industries in Pilerne Industrial Estate. “The government has created an Investment Promotion Board to provide a single window for industrial projects and attend to issues pertaining industries. The Pilerne Industrial Association should submit their grievances in writing to the Investment Promotion Board,” he said.

“I will convene a joint meeting of the senior officers of Industrial Development Corporation, electricity department, PWD and Goa Pollution Control Board and place before them the grievances of Pilerne Industrial Association and try to find a solution,” assured Naik.

Tourism Minister Parulekar also spoke at the meeting and assured his help and cooperation in resolving the problems of the industrial estate. Pilerne Industrial Association Chairman G K Gupta and Mayuresh Dhume also participated in the discussion.