New projects approved by IPB have given jobs to locals: CEO

Informs 25 cleared projects have started commercial operations rrthe goan I networkrPANAJIr rHe continued, “We reviewed the projects cleared in the first nine board meetings of IPB. At a later date, we will review the projects cleared in the remaining five board meetings.” rIn the fourteen board meetings, under the previous state government, the IPB had overall approved 150 industrial projects. rUnder the current state government led by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the IPB has started reviewing the progress made in the approvals given by the previous state government. rGodinho continued, “Of the 25 projects which have started commercial production, most are expansion projects, but some new ones too have completed and started operations.” rHe further informed, “Optel Vision’s factory in Verna is a new unit to start operations after getting approval from IPB. It’s a Canadian company, which is into manufacturing of vision inspection systems for pharmaceutical companies. 62 of 65 engineers employed by them are Goans.” rApart from Optel Vision, Albys Agro factory in Sanguem and Astra Concrete factory in Madkai are other new projects to start operations post-IPB nod. rA number of expansion projects too have started commercial production. rThese are the projects, which earlier also existed in Goa, but had got approval from IPB for expanding their manufacturing facilities. rProminent among the expansion projects to start commercial operations are Titan in Verna, United Breweries in Bethora, Cadila Healthcare in Kundaim, Cipla Biotech in Verna, Coca Cola in Verna, Nestle at Usgao, among several others. rGodinho also informed that all these companies are mostly employing locals. rHe continued, “Post the expansion, Titan has employed 50 local people, Siemens has given jobs to 20 people, who are all local. At Astra Concrete’s new factory in Madkai, 83 out of 87 people employed are local. Varun Beverages has employed 50 people, who are all locals from Sanguem.” rrrWill not tell Vani Agro to move its beer plant out of Goa: IPB rrrPANAJI: Speaking on the contentious issue of the proposed beer plant of Vani Agro Farms in Sanguem, CEO of Investment Promotion Board (IPB) Ashton Godinho said it is looking at a solution which is agreeable to both locals as well as the company. rGodinho mentioned they will not tell Vani Agro Farms to wind up and move its project out of Goa. rWhen asked whether the state government will tell the company to move the project to some other place in the State, Godinho replied, “It’s too early to comment on that.” rGodinho was speaking after the second meeting of the newly re-constituted board of the IPB. The topic of the proposed plant came up during this meeting. rThe proposed alcohol and beer plant at Amdai village in Sanguem taluka has attracted criticism from the time it was approved by the IPB during the tenure of the previous state government. rA section of villagers from Amdai had earlier raised concerns that the village doesn’t have sufficient water to support a plant like this, which has huge water requirements. Amdai village is located on the banks of Uguem river. rThe local scheduled tribes (ST) community considers Uguem river holy and considers its water auspicious as a result of which there was opposition to the plant. Earlier during the month, Agriculture and TCP Minister, Vijai Sardesai, had raised concerns about this project as there are around 900 coconut trees on the plot of land owned by Vani Agro Farms.