Few parts of Goan society have suffered more than industry in the last two years due to State Government’s inaction. Obviously then, the first challenge facing Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, is to assure industry and trade that the government will take care of
their problems.
Dr Sawant became CM in March and for the next two months code of conduct was implemented for general elections and bypolls. Now that the code of conduct is lifted, the representatives of industry will meet Dr Sawant to apprise him of their problems.
The biggest concern is that the government machinery works really slowly when it comes to any industrial matter. Consider the case of Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The decision to pay Rs 243 crore to SEZ promoters and repossess 38 lakhs square meter of industrial land was taken last year. However, the process is not over so far.
The question to be asked is: When exactly will the government get the land back? Everyone knows that industries have a tough time in getting land in Goa. Considering that, it will be a big boost if government repossesses 38 lakhs square meter of land as soon as possible.
Apart from it, government departments show little or no responsibility towards the industrial sector. Last year, industry representatives claimed that they had lost a large share of their output
|due to power cuts. This year too they are facing power cuts. And in some industrial estates like Pilerne, power cuts are half-day long.
The industry stakeholders need a lot of clarity on what the government’s approach will be for Chimbel IT Park and Tuem Electronics Park. Both these parks were the flagship projects of the previous State Government, which was in power from 2012 to 2017.
The current State Government did show a lot of enthusiasm for Chimbel IT Park, but the stakeholders want to know when the park will be up and running, and when IT companies will start setting up base in Goa.
Last but not the least, the state of tourism is miserable. Goa just endured the worst tourism season as the number of international tourists dropped significantly. Hoteliers, restaurant owners and all sorts of tourism stakeholders are struggling
to survive.
Sections of tourism industry have also claimed that the Tourism Department has done nothing for them in the last many years. Clearly, Dr Sawant has a lot to deal with now. Mining is shut, tourism is down and rest of the industry is plagued by several issues.
Goa is clearly at crossroads today and if the government does not gives an impetus to the industry; the problem is only going to become more severe.
