the goan I network
MARGAO
Will Health Minister Vishwajit Rane or the Food and Drugs Administration officials explain to Magavkars why a proposal mooted more than half a decade ago to set up a FDA unit in the commercial capital has moved at a snail’s pace when it was the need of the hour?
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday pointed out that the GSIDC has floated a tender amounting to Rs one crore to set up the FDA office in Margao, further stating the tender will be opened on July 20 to shortlist the successful bidder.
Many a question, however, remains unanswered. How come the FDA Margao unit sanctioned way back in January 2013 has failed to become a reality even five years later? And, whether the inordinate delay is on account of government’s dilly dallying or simply lack of interest on part of the FDA officials to take the proposal to its logical conclusion.
Otherwise, consider this. In January 2013, outgoing DFA Director Salim A Veljee had told the media on the government’s decision to establish a branch in South Goa. Veljee had then sounded optimistic that the FDA Margao unit will take shape within six months around December the same year.
The proposal, however, somewhat did not take off for reasons best known to the then government. For two long years, sources said, the proposal was confined to the books and it was only in early 2015 that the government had decided to allot space for the FDA unit in the old South Goa District Collectorate building. FDA officials had then exuded confidence that the unit may become a reality in a year’s time as the government had directed the GSIDC to furnish the office premises in the old Collectorate to meet its requirements.
While the issue over office space was overcome with the government allotting space in the old District Collectorate, the proposal was still
