Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s reaction over the grave allegations leveled by Goa State Industries Association President Damodar Kochkar does not go well with the promise of BJP of “Zero Tolerance” towards corruption.
In my interview series “Prime Encounter”, Kochkar has clearly revealed about “someone” who has been accepting money to get the works done at Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The businessman did not shy from disclosing this fact, which should have evinced immediate and high level inquiry from the office of the Chief Minister.
IDC has been in the news in the past for its misdeeds. One of the relative of former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was arrested by ACB, allegedly while accepting the bribe. He was working with IDC.
We still remember how vociferously late Manohar Parrikar was speaking against then Congress MLA and current BJP Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar for his alleged involvement in IDC plot scam.
When everyone thought that things are falling in place in this industrial development body, Kochkar’s revelation has come as another jolt. And Chief Minister’s reaction that “some people whose works are done, speak that way” was a shocker.
At least, what we expect that Sawant to initiate independent inquiry into the allegations leveled by Kochkar, who is representing a large section of the Industrial units in the State. Rubbishing the allegations, without inquiry, don’t go well with the slogan of “Zero Tolerance” towards corruption.
Goa cannot afford to compromise with the industrial sector as we are already down on revenue collection from Tourism, while mining has been functional in a discreet manner. CM’s announcement of large-scale employment opportunities in private sector from January, 2021 onwards is largely dependent on the growth of this sector. If there are no industries, then there will be no jobs.
Kochkar’s allegations should also be looked from the economic point of view. He has said that new industries are averse to come, while expansion of existing industries is on hold. IDC is supposed to be a body anointing the industrialization process, and if its officers are stalling it, then it is certainly going to create worst effect on the coffers of the state.
We are still blank as to where will Sawant get the revenue from to fulfill the promises made in the budget.
To sum up: as a citizen of Goa, I feel that Sawant should strictly act against the officers who wants to make money through bribes during this pandemic situation. We cannot afford to have such moles in our system. Get them out or else we will not trust CM when he will say that he is against the corruption. We will think otherwise.
