After questions and answers, ministers, MLAs, officials look forward to a break
TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: As the longest session in the history of Goa’s Legislature concludes May 2, today, MLAs and exhausted officials who were kept on their toes during the last seven weeks are heading for a welcome holiday.
Speaking to several heads of departments, Herald learnt that civil servants who were barred from taking leave over the last month and a half have got their leave sanctioned from next week, but in some cases, they are on leave right away from Friday itself.
In fact some heads of departments themselves will be going on leave for a few days only, as post budget business has also to be completed, they said.
Fatigue has literally set in for Ministers and MLAs, but it was the Opposition that ran out of steam on the floor of the House during this long session.
While two MLA are heading for Europe this weekend, three MLAs in the ruling party are heading out of Goa for a vacation.
The Opposition Congress MLA from Curtorim Alexio Reginaldo Lorenco however quipped, “Who says we are tired? I would not mind an extension of the session by another 15 days.”
The budget session this year saw some fiery moments on issues pertaining to law and order problems, language issue, entry tax, the airports issue, corruption, Lokayukta amendments, tourism and last but not the least, the ruckus over the postponement of the elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji.
The session also was punctuated with lighter moments when St Andre MLA Vishnu bringing locally grown vegetables into the House amid the raging controversy over entry tax and the threat of a blockade hanging over Goa. For the first time in the history of Goa some MLAs, mostly independents, added novelty to the proceedings by riding motorcycles to the Goa Assembly but were embroiled in a controversy since they did not use protective head gear while traversing the highway.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar however meant business from day one and took everyone by surprise by presenting his budget for the first time in Konkani, with the text of the budget too printed in Devanagari.
As the state politics shifts gears, all eyes are now going to veer towards the controversial Regional Plan 2021. The chief minister had promised to begin the exercise after the Session concludes, in addition to actions proposed to be taken on issues raised in the House.
