From daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 11: Adopting a populist measure, the state industries minister Luizinho Faleiro, on Tuesday said that no industrial unit would be allowed to enjoy subsidy till they fulfil the mandatory criterion of 80 per cent local employment in their units.
 
The statement came during the state legislative assembly session which began on Monday.

On the floor of the house, the opposition benches tried to put industries minister on the mat on the industrial subsidy issue citing discrepancy in the capital subsidy scheme. Replying to a volley of questions, Faleiro informed the house that strict instructions have been issued to the officers in industries department not to sanction any subsidy, if industrial units are not adhering to 80 per cent criteria.

Speaking about the pending applications seeking subsidy, Faleiro stated that the department has asked the industries to furnish names of Goans employed by them.

In reply to another question, Faleiro informed the house that Goa government is yet to release Rs 17.50 crore under capital subsidy scheme in 189 cases, for various reasons.

The scheme was discontinued on June 30, 2003 and thereafter department had ceased to accept any application.

Leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, however, cited that in two cases applications were entertained after the cut-off date.

Industries minister clarified that these applications were entertained as earlier they had submitted incomplete applications. "In case there are cases wherein applications were received in time and they were rejected for being incomplete, we can consider them," Faleiro assured.