PANJIM: As Goa government borrowings have crossed Rs 2,000 crore, the Congress has claimed that the State led by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is facing financial emergency.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar has accused the chief minister of leading the State to the current crisis owing to his misplaced priorities.
“Goa government has committed Historic Economic Blunder of 2019 that 15th Finance Commission did not visit Goa despite several reminders to Goa by the Commission. All this is a result of financial blunder created by the BJP government. The chief minister has failed to control unwanted financial leakages and his misplaced priorities have led to financial emergency,” he said addressing a press briefing at the party head office on Tuesday.
He recalled that the sanctioned loan amount by the Reserve Bank of India for 2017-18 was Rs 2540 crore, which escalated to Rs 3250 crore and 2019-20 the amount comes to Rs 2691 crore.
“The total Goa Budget is Rs 19,548.69 crore and normally it does not cross 70 percent to 75 percent of budgeted figures which will be around 13,700 crore. This works out to be around 19 per cent which is not a healthy a sign. The proposed loan as per Budget estimate 2019-20 is Rs 2528 crore and in the next quarter from January to March 2020, government will have to borrow another Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore,” he further said adding that Goa’s total liabilities will touch Rs 25,000 crore by end of December 2020.
The Opposition has demanded to know why Power Minister Niles Cabral has request for Rs 1000 crore from the Central Power Ministry. “Government needs to clarify whether it is part of share of devolution as per Finance Commission or its grants” he said.
