VASCO
A number of associations from the industry have strongly opposed the State government’s move to waive off Rs 277.08 crore to casinos.
In a joint representation to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Verna Industries Association (VIA) said the government’s move was both disheartening and unacceptable.
“It is very disheartening that the government is contemplating to waive off a huge sum of Rs 277.08 crore to the Casino Industry and allowed it to pay the Annual Recurrence Fee on a monthly basis, in spite of the fact that the State government claiming to face financial crisis,” stated the representation signed by CII Goa State Council Chairman Blaise Costabir, GCCI President Manoj Caculo, GSIA President Damodar Kochkar, TTAG President Nilesh Shah and VIA President Pradip A P da Costa.
"While industries, small traders, restaurants, retail wine shops, transport operators and other small businesses have been have been struggling to survive during the lockdown due to Covid-19 since March, several requests to the State government for waiver of fees during the lockdown period have been ignored with the reason that the State is facing financial crunch.”
“However, the State government has now come out with a decision to waive crores of rupees to the casino industry, which is truly unacceptable.”
"While MSMEs and other small businesses are struggling against all odds without the support of the State government to achieve the Prime Minister’s clarion call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, the MSMEs and other industries being the major drivers of the economy are being given the last priority while consideration is being given to casinos.”
The representation stated that most requests by industries in Goa were rejected on grounds that the State has been facing a financial crisis and unable to forgo revenue loss.
"The government is sending notices and pressurising small businesses to pay state tax dues during this critical period of economic slowdown. Amendments are brought by way of Industrial Disputes (Goa Amendment) Act, 2020 raising the retrenchment compensation to 45 days of earlier 15 days.”
“The Goa Factories Rules propose to raise the licence fees to make it difficult for industries to survive. If existing industries are not taken care of and forced to the brink of closure, why should new industries come to Goa or expand their projects.”
“The industries totally oppose the government’s move to give waivers to selected cash rich sectors. If the government is planning to give waiver of fees during the lockdown period, the same rule must be made applicable across the board to all the sectors.”
“The industries are confident that the government will accept the request made by the industry and apply the waiver to every sector which have been trying to sustain themselves through these pandemic times," says the representation.
