Goa govt in dock for permit to mill consuming excess power

Panaji, August 4: Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte today cornered the Goa government for granting permission for alleged expansion of a power guzzling unit, despite power shortage in the state.

During the Question Hour, Khaunte raised the issue about the state cabinet giving clearance to Mohit Ispat mill to set up an industry at Navelim village in North Goa despite the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) rejecting the proposal.

The legislator said the industry (mill) requires 13.2 MW of power, which is not available with the state. Defending the state government, Industries Minister Mahadev Naik claimed that the industry has only sought to transfer its plant from Kudaim Industrial Estate to the village.

He ruled out that the industry has asked for the expansion but instead it is just transfer of the plant. The industry exists at Kundalim since 1992 and had applied for the transfer in 2005 after it acquired the land at Navelim village, Naik said.

Unhappy with the reply, Khaunte accused the minister of giving false reply and promoting red category industry in the state.

As both engaged in a verbal dual on the floor of the House, ruckus ensued. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar trying to defuse the situation, accused Khaunte of trying to mislead the people using floor of the House. He also questioned why the legislator was harping on the single unit (Mohit Ispat).

"I caution you, questioning about only one industry consistently on the floor of the House can send wrong signal to the outside world," the chief minister commented.

PTI