The Manohar Parrikar led coalition government is all set to review the controversial Investment Promotion Board and Facilitation (IPBF) and the projects approved by it till date- as part of their common minimum programme (CMP), which is expected to be released on the Statehood Day- May 30. The Board stands non-functional since November end, 2016 as the term expired.
The then BJP led government had enacted Goa Investment Promotion Act 2014 for facilitating single window clearance for the investors to invest in the State. Pursuant to this act, the IPBF, a statutory body was constituted for speedy clearance of investment proposals above Rs 5 crores.
Accordingly, till November 2, last year, the Board held eleven meetings granting in-principle approvals to 152 projects with total proposed investment of Rs 11,759.41 crores with employment potential of 26,600 persons.
During the first meeting held on CMP, the coalition government has decided to review the IPB and the approvals it has granted so far. “We will review the IPB projects. Several controversial and non-environment friendly projects are been approved. We have to review it,” Minister for Town and Country Planning Vijay Sardessai said.
Interestingly, during the State Budget 2017-18, Chief Minister has announced to set up a new Startup Promotion Board for the State, while it did not make any mention about IPB, despite its term getting lapsed.
The Board was caught up in the controversy, following its series of permissions for conversion of over lakhs of square meters of agricultural and khazan lands into settlement zones, for promoting investment.
The NGO’s like Goa Bachao Abhiyan, Goa Foundation and Council for Social Justice and Peace, had slammed IPB functioning claiming it as a money making machine for the BJP to fund elections, and to push unwanted developmental projects in the villages by undermining the constitutional powers of the local bodies.
The Board came under major criticism, after it granted permission to M/s Vani Agro Farms Pvt limited for setting up of alcohol and brewery industry- red category industry at Amdai in Sanguem Taluka. The then opposition members and the present Ministers in the Parrikar cabinet- Vijay Sardessai and Rohan Khaunte- had led scathing attack on the government over the said project. The Legislators along with the villagers there had demanded withdrawal of permission, pointing that it is a red category industry. As many as 400 coconut trees were fell down to pave way for the industry.
Team TNV
