Margao, Aug 22 (TOI): Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday reiterated his government's commitment to strike a balance of being investor-friendly as well as pro-people while seeking the industrialists' confidence to the 'sincere efforts of his government' to resolve their various grievances within the next six months.

Speaking at the 14th annual general body meeting of the Verna industries association (VIA) held in a motel at Verna, Parsekar divulged that he had urged the Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu to commence the task of laying the double tracks on the Konkan railway route so as to facilitate the cargo transportation of the industries in Goa.

"This will commence within the next four months. Besides reducing the traffic burden on the roads, people residing in Pernem and Canacona will immensely benefit as they will now be easily connected. Also, a cargo international airport is the need of the hour so access will now be provided to the Mopa international airport for those residing in Canacona that now looks far away," exclaimed Parsekar assuring to honour the commitments given by his predecessor and present Union defense minister Manohar Parrikar to the industrialists.

Urging other mining firms to follow the Vedanta mining firm that had taken the initiative to recommence its functioning in the state, the CM further spoke at length on how the government sought to revive Goa's economy that was severely crippled by the three-year-long mining ban and clarified the reasons for opting for the renewal of mining leases instead of auctioning the mineral ore that would have generated revenue to the government treasury.

Adopting a defensive stance, Parsekar emphasized that his government was concerned about providing employment to the people while inviting industries to set up in the state. Hence, the government had launched the Information Technology (IT) policy so as to provide jobs to the qualified Goan youth in the 'environment-friendly' IT sector.

Later, speaking to the media, Parsekar hinted of identifying a third site for the purpose of industrial waste management as well as exploring the prospect of either forming a new police station for the Verna industrial estate or readjusting the jurisdictional boundaries of the three police stations that are entrusted with the Verna industrial estate.

While industries minister Mahadev Naik spoke of providing employment to local youth with the government seeking to acquire land to set up more industries in Latambarcem, Panchwadi and Shiroda, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) chairman Ganesh Gaonkar divulged plans to resolve the water crisis by issuing tender notices for 10 MLD raw water supply as well as making a 6 crore provision for a water pipeline to the Verna IDC. Besides, spending 1.40 crore for a truck terminal, various lapsed posts in the IDC will be revived, stated the IDC chairman assuring to resolve the various infrastructure grievances of the VIA within six months.

Earlier, VIA president-elect Damodar Kochkar and VIA founder president Nitin Kunkolienkar highlighted the various difficulties faced by their members.

Also present were VIA general secretary Duguesh Pai Angle, treasurer Rajesh Prabhu, Sanjay Kare and other members.