Panaji (GOA): Reeling under pressure from the coalition partners, the BJP led government has appointed global consultant KPMG to examine and scrutinize the feasibility of 30-odd investment projects that got in-principle approval from the Investment Promotion Board (IPB).
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also declared that the 13 and 14 meeting held in November and December, last year as ‘invalid’ since the term of its private members ended in October 2016. 35 projects with over Rs 2000 crore investment were approved during those meeting.
Since IPB’s inception in October 2014, the board has cleared 151 projects with estimated investment of Rs 11,482.66 crore that has the potential to generate 25,980 jobs. Except for the first meeting chaired by Parrikar, all other 13 meetings were under then chief minister and IPB chairman Laxmikant Parsekar.
“The consultant will do a detailed analysis of the investment proposals and simplify work for the IPB,” Parrikar, who is also the chairman of IPB, said.
He, however, also clarified that sending the 30-odd projects to the consultant for scrutiny does not mean that they are been rejected.
Chief Minister said the consultant would thoroughly examine investment claims of probable investors in terms of manpower and whether they match the parameters set by Goa for investment—non-polluting, employment-oriented and ability to use available manpower.
Among the 30-odd projects that would come under scrutiny are eight eco-tourism projects and 27 others that have not taken off for various reasons. These include controversial Vani Agro in Sanguem, Vanxi exo-resort project, marinas, Mini India Park, etc.
The coalition partners including Goa Forward Party led by Vijay Sardesai and Independent Rohan Khaunte had been demanding review of IPB projects approved during its last tenure. They had termed IPB as destructive and money-making too, while in opposition.
Parrikar informed that of the 151 projects approved by the board, 30 had been completed while 80 were at various stages of completion.
Team TNV
