n CAUGHT IN LAND ISSUES, ZONING TANGLE n Proposed jobs 17,599 n Chinese firm seeks
60,000 sq mts to set-up manufacturing unit of Set Top boxes
PANAJI
Even as the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) may have given its go-ahead for five expansion projects while deferring 10 new projects, there are around 73 major proposals that are long awaiting approvals to set up shop in the State.
Around 26 new industries and 39 hospitality projects with a projected investment of Rs 6,000 crore and 17,599 jobs are yet to get the IPB's green signal for reasons ranging from land issues to zone changes.
Interestingly, one China-based company has approached the State government asking for 60,000 sq meters of land to set up a set-top box manufacturing unit. The proposal which is again held up due to non-availability of land has projected an investment of Rs 136 crore in Goa while employing 2000 at the facility.
Another big project proposed at Morjim in Pernem taluka is an Amusement Park and Entertainment Centre having Rs 1,006 crore investment potential and proposed employment of 4000. The proposal is again pending as the project land is falling under orchard zone category as per the Regional Plan.
Documents accessed by The Goan reveal that the 26 proposed industries had an investment potential of Rs 613 crore with generation of jobs for around 3,674 people.
Meanwhile, the 39 hospitality projects which are pending IPB approval projected an investment of Rs 5,216 crore while assuring 12,817 jobs. Similarly, another 8 projects having an investment potential of Rs 203 crores with jobs for 1108 persons are still awaiting clearances.
On Friday, the IPB had given its approval for five expansion projects, but deferred ten proposals for new projects in its board meeting.
Sources informed that these five approved expansion projects would bring Rs 168.7 cr of investment and create 209 jobs.
This is the first time that IPB, which is under the chairmanship of CM Parrikar, has cleared investment projects ever since the new State government was formed in March this year. The biggest expansion project to get approval belonged to Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics, which will increase its optical fibre manufacturing capacity from 8 million kms/year to 12.5 million kms/year. This project will bring Rs 92.4 crore of investment and create 18 jobs. Close on its heels was Finolex Cables, which was given nod to increase its capacity for electrical conduits and fittings at Verna Industrial Estate. This project will bring Rs 35.2 cr of investment and create 55 jobs.
