PANJIM: Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said that Goa government’s demand for a Rs 1,000 crore financial package would be considered only after the end of ongoing Parliament session.
“Goa has submitted the formal proposal to the Union government. Now it will be discussed with the Finance Secretary before putting it up to the Prime Minister,” Parrikar told reporters in Panjim, when he was on a three-day visit to review the proposed new Zuari bridge project and the Regional Plan 2021.
During his tenure as chief minister, Parrikar, had in October 2014, submitted a Rs 1500 crore infrastructural development proposal to the Centre, which it assured to take up on priority. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had last month assured the State government that he would provide a financial package to offset the revenue loss caused due to closure of mining operations.
Parrikar said that there is a delay in approving the proposal due to the ongoing Parliament session and also visits of VVIPs lined up for December. He said that though he demanded a financial package of Rs 1,000 crore, the actual money sanctioned, would depend on the Centre.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar left for New Delhi to attend the chief ministers’ meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to elicit their views on the restructuring/replacing of the Planning Commission. The meeting scheduled for Sunday, will discuss the structure, scope and role of the new body that will replace the Planning Commission in the changed economic scenario.
