the goan I network
PANAJI
At the 17th annual general meeting (AGM) of Verna Industries Association, power and water problems faced by the industries took
the centre stage.
In fact, Power Minister, Nilesh Cabral, and Goa Industrial Development Corporation’s (GIDC) Chairman, Glenn Ticlo, were the guests of honour. And, Minister of Revenue, IT and Labour & Employment, Rohan Khaunte, was the chief guest.
Damodar Kochkar, president, Verna Industries Association, said, “We are presently paying Rs 25 per cubic meter for raw water supply from the pipeline. However, we were promised a rate of Rs 10 per cubic meter by the government. This is when the price of raw water from bore-wells in rainy season is as low as Rs 2 per cubic meter and in non-rainy season its price is Rs 6 per cubic meter.”
Kochkar continued, “If you are charging Rs 25 per cubic meter for raw water from pipeline, no one will take it because price of water from bore-wells is much cheaper. However, the need of the hour is to preserve ground
water table.”
“Since when Digambar Kamat was the Power Minister, we have been hearing the promise of underground cabling. So many power ministers have come and gone. Their constituencies have got underground cabling. Margao got it, Loutolim got it. But, Verna is still without underground cabling,”
Kochkar further said.
He said, “The electricity substation in the Verna Industrial Estate is not equipped to take that much load. Right now most industries have to take a forceful power cut. While developing the land, which the government will get back from special economic zone (SEZ) promoters, please keep in mind to improve the power infrastructure for all the industries.”
Ticlo assured that he is working on to solve a number of issues. He also mentioned that he recently met Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, and he brought up issues faced by the industries
with the CM.
Ticlo said, “Yesterday, I was with him (Parrikar) after a long time. When I went there, he enquired about GIDC and he himself brought up certain issues. He was very alert and focussed like he has always been. That came as a relief. I brought up four to five
issues with him.”
