The CAG report was tabled on the last day of the budget session. One of the most scathing remarks made in the report against the Government is that There is a lack of responsiveness of the Government to Audits. This is of serious concern since the role of the CAG is to inspect the financial health of various departments, prevent wasteful expenditure and revenue leakages, and improve performance. Non-compliance with CAG recommendations can lead to revenue losses and performance failures in the department. When multiple departments fail, the cumulative impact compounded with the government’s policy failures and rising debt will lead to Statewide socio-economic collapse as witnessed in Sri Lanka.
In 2020, the CAG pointed out the revenue loss due to a large number of vacant plots in IDC, non-recovery of dues from industries, delays in executing deeds of transfer to allottees, delays and arbitrariness in allotment of plots, poor infrastructure in the industrial estates etc. All this is due to the rampant corruption in IDC. CAG had suggested several recommendations to improve the performance of IDC but all of it has been ignored. In the 2022 report, it has been revealed that the Government dug into IDC coffers to pay SEZ firms Rs 256.57 crore as refundable/settlement amount which included Rs 17 Crores as construction licence fees that were paid to the local bodies. In other words, the government used IDC as an ATM machine to settle an issue which once was considered a scam.
All this pegs the question, can the Industries department and IDC improve Goa’s industrial sector ad create jobs for locals? The Minister claims that government cannot guarantee 80% employment for locals. However, he claims that the industries which will give jobs to locals will get incentives. LAQ replies reveal that since 2019, the government is yet to disburse Rs 1.9 Crore subsidies for 33 industries and Rs 1 Crore disbursement towards the tribal employment generation scheme, is pending.
The Minister further states that “Goa Industrial Growth & Investment Promotion Policy 2022” does not quantify the expected investment or the number of jobs to be generated.
Thus, of their own volition, the government will not do anything to ensure that the 20 lakh sq mts of vacant IDC land is utilised and jobs are created for locals.
The Goa Forward Party has taken it upon itself to compel to generate employment in the private sector. The Party has set 12 targets which include forcing the government to hand over every vacant plot to entrepreneurs and industries so that it is utilised to create employment. The Party will go across the State to every constituency and spread awareness so that Government is pressurised to implement these 12 targets within a year
Goa Forward targets for Industries and Commerce Department
1. Take over all sick and unutilised IDC plots and put them up for auction
2. To complete infrastructure all IDCs especially Quitol, Shiroda, Latambarcem
3. Put up all vacant plots for auction. If needed, bifurcate plots to smaller plots so goans can afford to take it over..
4. Make a single window system for all industries and not just those above 5 Crore
5. Ensure mechanism is in place for time-bound approvals and disbursement of schemes
6. Put up details of every sq mt of industrial land in Goa whether IDC, govt owned or private along with details of utilisation and employment. (Govt is already preparing a land bank inventory for the Central Government.)
Goa Forward targets for other departments
1. Table the 80% employment bill in the House
2. Determine the transportation requirements in IDCs (especially for small industries that can’t afford their own transport) and provide safe public transport facilities
3. Increase wage rates
4. Impose a blanket ban on all conversion of industrial land to non-industrial land
5. Provide continuous and affordable power and water supply to Industries
6. Implement Skills development mission, especially the framework needed to coordinate between industry, skills development institutions and youth to ensure every youth who wants a job has access to the training needed to be employable.
