The Goa Industrial Corporation Development (GIDC) Chairman, Glenn Ticlo, earlier this week called for a press conference to address various issues mainly on account of reports doing rounds in the media wherein GSIA President Damodar Kochkar who is also a GIDC board member levelled corruption allegations against GIDC.
Ticlo expressed his shock and surprised as he went on to elaborate on allegations made wherein he mentioned that GIDC was accused of fixing prices for allotment of plots. Ticlo further said, “I do not know what corruption Kochkar is speaking of and him being an active member and President of GSIA, if he feels that there are issues like these present then he must raise them with the Board which can then be discussed and deliberated upon at the Board meetings.”
Ticlo further spoke of issuing a show cause notice to Kochkar to justify his allegation against GIDC as this was an unacceptable act. He said, “There must be some truth in the statements you make. I would like to ask Kochkar, what corruption he is talking about. If any corrupt acts exist, it is he who must ensure that there is no corruption as Kochkar himself is one of the members of the screening committee responsible for allotment of plots.” He clarified that in order to allot plots; there is a point system to which anyone can object strongly.
Ticlo also stated that if Kochkar is not fit, he must not be a member of the GIDC. He further said, “I am wondering whether Kochkar is against the GIDC Board, the GIDC Chairman, Chief Minister or against the Government itself.”
Speaking of what steps Ticlo had taken to enhance transparency in GIDC, he said that he has already started looking into everything wherever anything wrong is happening and GIDC has launched online services, however, very few units are coming forward to utilise these services.
In this regard, Ticlo also said that he was not getting any support from the Government and it was becoming tougher and tougher for him to operate smoothly. He went on to say that he never got any support after the ex CM of Goa Manohar Parrikar fell sick. He said, “After Parrikar, our dynamic current CM and Industry Minister stepped in, however i need my own freedom to work to improve. There is too much interference from the department which is making it difficult for me to work.”
