From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld  News Network - Goa

Margao, Sep 11: The Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF) has demanded that the government issue a White Paper on the functioning of the Cuncolim Industrial Estate before the forthcoming Assembly elections.

This, the Forum feels, would put at rest the fears and apprehension in the minds of the villagers on whether the Industrial Units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate are viable and necessary or have now become redundant in relation to Industrial growth and the potential for employment.
 
The Forum has also called for the takeover of the Cuncolim Industrial Estate by the Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) from the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in view of its failure to control the industrial units from causing air and water pollution, indiscriminate garbage dumping, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, violation of labour laws and creating a condition of insecurity in the locality.

In a letter to Cuncolim Municipal Council chairperson Filonio C. Vaz, the Forum has demanded that the Council immediately convene a special meeting of the residents of the village to discuss the various issues arising out of  the inaction of the GIDC and the implications of the removal of the Industrial Estate area from the jurisdiction of the Council.

These industrial units were granted licences by the Industries Department with a view to generating industrial growth and employment potential and for which these units were provided land, received various incentives, subsidies and tax benefits with an effort to set up shop in Goa.

Some of the units in this Estate who have taken loans from the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and are unable to repay the same are currently being listed for auction through various newspapers.
 
The Forum has further pointed out that all the competent authorities under the various Central Acts and Goa legislations who have the responsibility and the mandate to conduct inspections, issue show cause notices and monitor all violations are all located in the capital city of Panaji.

The fact that the local Municipal Council has no power to intervene in the present context has made a mockery of the concept of local self-governance and fuelled the massive irregularities at present found being carried out in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.