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Industrial associations in Goa have voiced strong opposition to the allotment of ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants within established industrial estates, citing dust emissions and slurry spills that impede operations of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food processing and electronics. Though RMC units fall under the green/white category as per the Goa State Pollution Control Board, they reportedly generate conditions inconsistent with 'clean manufacturing' needs, prompting the bodies to press for regulatory review and insistent of relocation possibilities.
Representatives of the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), along with the Kundaim Industrial Estate Industries Association and the Verna Industries Association, raised objections earlier this week to the proposed siting of RMC plants in key industrial estates, notably in Phase IV of the Verna Industrial Estate as well as the Kundaim Estate. Advertisement
Despite the green/white classification granted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, industrialists point out that the RMC operations generate copious dust and cement-particle emissions which clash with neighbouring units producing pharmaceuticals, food, FMCG, packaging and electronics products. They highlight that slurry spills along estate roads have damaged infrastructure and created hygiene concerns within zones that require dust-free ambience.
In a letter to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), they warn that several units are facing 'operational issues' and may consider relocating outside Goa unless the situation is addressed. The associations also flagged that some RMC plants are entering estates via plot transfer, sub-leasing or activity-change in existing allocations, thereby gaining indirect entry into core industrial areas.
The GIDC board meeting considered a note which stated that any policy decision to restrict specific industries or re-classify uses within estates must be backed by legal due-diligence and must align with existing lease terms and approvals. Industrial bodies also drew attention to the fact that in states like Maharashtra, RMC plants have been re-classified from green to orange category in recognition of their dust and particulate emissions.
The challenge faced by industrial estates in Goa reflects a broader tension between enabling versatile industrial use and preserving clean-manufacturing standards within shared zones. Unless the GIDC and relevant regulatory bodies act swiftly to clarify permissible uses, enforce zoning discipline and ensure proper categorisation and monitoring of RMC activity, the risk of relocation by sensitive units could accelerate-potentially eroding investment confidence and industrial clustering advantages for the region.
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