PANAJI
Bandekar was speaking at the 109th annual general meeting of the GCCI. Bandekar said, “If all projects cleared by the IPB are subjected to fresh scrutiny, no investor will see Goa as a stable destination for investment.”
Former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar-led IPB had granted in-principle approval to 150 projects aiming at attracting Rs 11,500 crore of investment for the state.
In the meanwhile, the Common Minimum Programme of the current state government has promised that all cases approved by the IPB would be reviewed to ensure that they are in tune with the State Investment Policy.
Earlier during the month, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that there would be scrutiny of 4 to 5 projects cleared by the IPB. However, Parrikar had also assured that reviewing wouldn’t result in cancelling of these projects.
In the meanwhile, a number of cleared projects have not started commercial production yet, which has been a cause of worry for the industry.
On this, Bandekar said, “Many projects cleared by IPB are awaiting other government approvals, including power connection.”
Bandekar further said that plot allotment to the projects cleared by the IPB should be the priority of the current state government.
He also opined that lack of availability of land is a serious issue for industrial projects in the state.
Bandekar continued, “Goa fared below average on ease of doing business for the last two years. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has taken up the task of improving ease of doing business on war-footing.”
