PANAJI
Industries and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday said the State government would bring in a new industrial policy which aims at providing job opportunities to 30,000 people and an investment of Rs 20,000 crore in the next five years.
“The Cabinet will approve the industrial policy in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday and the policy will be tabled on the last day of assembly,” Godinho stated in the Assembly.
“There will be transparency in allocation of plots and pollution-free industries and job-oriented industries will be promoted. Goans will be given preference in plots”, Godinho told the House.
Admitting that low voltage power has been affecting industries, Godinho said the government tried to provide purchased power to industries but it did not work.
GOOD, CHEAP TRANSPORT NEEDED: Advocating the need for some innovative changes for better public transport system, Godinho appealed to politicians not to do politics in the taxi operators issue and in fact support the government’s move.
“The people of Goa need good and cheap transport. Besides, 208 taxi operators were given support of Rs 2 lakh per person. The fuel support scheme has now been discontinued after releasing a subsidy of Rs 5 crore,” said Godinho.
BUS STANDS ON PPP BASIS: Stating that the State government needs funds to develop bus stands, the transport minister said the government would have to adopt the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
“Bus stands in Mapusa, Margao and Vasco will be developed on PPP basis,” he informed the Assembly.
He claimed that although there have been 200 cases of people demanding buses for children, the government was not in a position to provide buses to everyone.
TAXIMEN MUST USE METERS: Godinho also said the State government does not have a target to get Ola or Uber, but would develop a good transport system by taking taxi operators and all stakeholders into confidence.
