PONDA
In a bid to achieve Rs 25,000 crore investment and 50,000 jobs to Goans in the next five years, Industries Minister Mahadev Naik has sent a key proposal to the government to utilize half of the open spaces available in the State for industrial purpose.
Speaking exclusively to The Goan regarding the Goa Investment Promotion Board (GIPB) constituted in November 2014, Naik said nine meetings have been convened so far and 33 projects have been cleared.
“We have even cleared 17 other projects for expansion, where Goans will get 80 per cent jobs,” he said.
Admitting that there was no land left for industrial purpose, Naik said: “The major setback is land acquisition. However, I have proposed to use 7.5 per cent of the 15 per cent open spaces available in the State for industrial purpose. This proposal has got an approval from the Town and country planning and the government will decide on this shortly.”
“The government constituted the GIPB, which is headed by the chief minister, to Continued from P3
provide a single-window for industrial projects. The deputy chief minister, tourism minister and power minister are appointed as vice-chairpersons on this board and they along with other officials will keep a check on whether Goans are given jobs or not,” Naik said.
“With the formation of the GIPB, the high-powered co-ordination committee (HPCC) has come to an end, but their pending projects were also cleared by the government.”
He said the GIPB plays a vital role to ensure that projects are given good infrastructure, create jobs and promote Goa as an investment destination.
NGOs MISLEADING PEOPLE: MINISTER
Hitting out at NGOs and other pressure groups opposing the government’s development plans, Industries Minister Mahadev Naik has said that the NGOs should also shoulder the responsibility of providing jobs to the unemployed.
“When industries are coming into Goa, there is opposition from some NGOs. Without studying the matter and knowing more about these industries, they amass people to support them and they oppose the projects. This is very bad,” Naik said.
“If NGOs know to oppose the projects, then they should also take up the responsibility of providing jobs. Why don’t they do this? They should give jobs to unemployed people,” he said.
