Expecting relief from the on-going problems faced by the pharma industry in Goa, team of experts from the Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association (GPMA) recently met the new chief minister Laxmikanth Parsekar in his office.  Through this meeting the association appraised the current issues and challenges faced by the industry, which is threatening to cripple the growth of the sector in the state.

Experts pointed out that an immediate intervention from the government is their highest priority at the moment, as the sector is grappling with severe crunch in the availability of water, electricity and land within the state. GPMA stressed that affordable and uninterrupted supply of these resources are must for the growth and sustenance of the industry.

Suresh Kamath, president, of GPMA informed that fear of losing business to competitors due to shortage of water and electricity, is forcing the companies to buy them through third party at a far higher price. Similarly, lack of availability of land in Goa for extension of pharma plants is further hampering the companies’ future intentions to expand within the state. A dangerous trend that is further pushing investment opportunities from the state to other lucrative zones, noted Kamath.

The association during their meeting with the CM pointed out that the government under the CM ship of Manohar Parrkiar had already started the work on imitating the supply water to three of the pharma hubs in the state namely, Verna, Kundaim and Pileme industrial estate.

However, Kamath informed that as of now, only 70 per cent of the work has been completed which includes the lines being drawn up till Verna industrial estate, which is still awaiting distribution of the water.

“For running a pharma unit, we need an interrupted water and power supply, dearth of which is already affecting the industry. We have already represented our issues and have urged the new government under Parsekar to compete the work started by the previous government so that the industry do not have to wait further for any intervention.”

It is understood that Parsekar has come forward with assurance to fully cooperate with the industry to understand and address them at the earliest.