MARGAO
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Sunday dared Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to release data of projects cleared by the Investment Promotion Board (IPB).
Saying that the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) is a scam initiated by BJP Government to handover prime Goan land to Capitalists, Yuri said these projects have become an ATM Machine for the BJP as he challenged the Chief Minister to release data of all Projects cleared by IPB till date.
Reacting to the statement made by the Chief Minister after the 35th IPB Board Meeting announcing seven Projects cleared for a proposed investment of Rs 180 crores and employment potential of 1,208, Leader of Opposition slammed the BJP Government for giving false figures to mislead Goans.
“Reality of IPB is Government gave away 12.91 Lakh square metres of land to IPB Projects for just Rs 726.43 crores Investment as against proposed Investment of Rs 4,637.50 crores & only 1,037 Jobs as against proposed 17, 525 jobs from 2018 till June 2023. Only 14 projects out of 85 are completed. Only 55 Goans got employment till date in these projects. This data is only of last four years and just a 'tip of the iceberg', claimed Yuri.
He added: “IPB has become a "Single Window for Corruption" as the IPB Board has taken over powers of issuing Conversion Sanads from Revenue Department. Technical Clearances are given directly bypassing TCP Department and Construction Licences are issued by IPB Board sidelining Panchayats and Municipalities”.
Claiming there is huge land given to create Gaming Village in Pernem violating all rules of TCP Act, he said Land admeasuring 3.80 lakh square metres is alloted in Pernem which is actually falling under Command Area. “Another land of 96,000 square metres is alloted falling under Buffer Zone of Garbage Treatment Plant at Pernem. The said land is also in Command Area, pointed Yuri.
Saying he have a reply to his Legislative Assembly question which states that Government has no data pertaining to Jobs given to Goans by the Industries cleared under IPB, the Opposition leader said it is high time that Government come clean on the status of all IPB Projects.
