MAPUSA
The State government came under fire in the Assembly on Monday over the allotment of industrial plots by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), with the Opposition alleging favouritism and manipulation of the allotment process and demanding the appointment of a House Committee to investigate the matter.
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai and AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva questioned Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho over the manner in which industrial plots were being allotted, with the debate turning acrimonious as Sardesai and Godinho traded personal allegations.
Sardesai alleged that the allotment process had been “rigged” to favour certain applicants and questioned the decision to relax eligibility criteria for allotment of plots at the proposed Hello World Innovation and Research Park at Verna.
He alleged that one particular party was favoured in the allotment of six plots after the eligibility criteria were “drastically diluted”.
“Everything and everyone is for sale by rigging the auction process in this government,” Sardesai alleged, targeting Godinho.
The Industries Minister, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the entire process was transparent and that locals were given preference.
“There is no question of favouritism. Locals are given preference. The whole process is transparent. All decisions are taken along with the Board of Directors,” Godinho said.
He said the criteria had been consciously relaxed to encourage greater competition.
“We consciously relaxed the criteria in an effort to enhance the competition,” Godinho said.
Sardesai immediately questioned the rationale behind the relaxation, asking how only one applicant could emerge if the criteria had been eased to encourage wider participation.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas also accused the government of “gross corruption” and cited observations of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) concerning the GIDC Board of Directors. He joined Sardesai in demanding that a House Committee be constituted to examine the allotments and the decision-making process.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva, who had earlier raised the issue, sought details of all persons and entities that had been allotted industrial properties and questioned the criteria followed by the GIDC.
The sharp exchange forced Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene briefly in defence of Godinho. Sawant said the Industries Minister had provided a detailed response to the issues raised by the Opposition.
The controversy centres around the Hello World Innovation and Research Park being developed at the Verna Industrial Estate. The project, spread across around four lakh square metres, was conceived as a dedicated hub for IT, research and technology-driven enterprises.
GIDC had initially planned several large plots for IT companies and has been promoting the project as a major employment-generating initiative.
GIDC has already allotted three of the large plots at Hello World to a Mumbai-based developer, while the project is expected by the government to generate between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs when fully developed.
The project has also involved changes to development parameters. GIDC had proposed increasing the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) for Hello World from 150 to 300 to make the project more attractive and commercially viable for investors.
