PANAJI: Industries Minister Mahadev Naik on Thursday informed the state legislative assembly during the Question Hour that the government is not averse to give permission to the ‘Red’ industries and if permissions are withheld to such industries, which manufacture fertilizers, distillery, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, sugar, and so on, then all of them would close down.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar also supported the Industries Minister by stating that even the five-star hotels functioning in the state come under the ‘Red’ industry category.
Incidentally, the industries having pollution index of 60 and above are termed as ‘Red’ industries.
Earlier, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte brought to the notice of the House that the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) was indiscriminately giving clearances to the anti-public projects including those under the ‘Red’ category, in the absence of any industrial expert on the Board. “The IPB does not even have the mandatory satellite consultant, who takes into consideration the water, power, garbage disposal and parking needs of every project, which comes before the Board,” he added.
The Industries Minister informed that a satellite consultant has been selected for the IPB, and his appointment order would be issued soon, following which an agreement would be signed with him.
The Porvorim legislator also maintained that the steel ‘induction furnace’ unit run by M/s Mohit Ispat Ltd at Kundaim is a polluting as well as power guzzling unit, and yet the Investment Promotion Board as well as the state cabinet has given it permission for expansion. He also brushed away the clarification of the Industries Minister that the permission was for shifting of the unit from Kundaim to Bicholim and not for expansion, further stating that the government is selling land under the garb of Investment Promotion Board.
The Industries Minister informed the House that till date, altogether 30 projects had come before the IPB for expansion, out of which 5 have already completed their expansion, 3 have not generated any employment through their expansion, while expansion of the rest 22 is in progress.
The Porvorim MLA further stated that a shopping mall and entertainment centre project of the Models Real Estate Developers on its land admeasuring 5,325 sq mt, in the Socorro village would create chaos in the area, which has narrow roads and a residential area.
Maintaining that the particular project would need additional scrutiny, the Industries Minister stated that this project would bring in an investment of Rs 55 crore as also create 300 jobs.
The Chief Minister, on the other hand, maintained that the government will henceforth monitor the decisions of the IPB on the projects coming up in places like Panaji and Porvorim.