PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has declared that twenty four departments have spent only 30% of their annual budget. He has directed the departments to spend the remaining 70% budget in the remaining months. Will this lead to wasteful expenditure? Will the Centre reduce next year’s central allocations for schemes? Herald TV asked people with this kind of a report card, “Is Goa govt really interested in the development of Goa?”
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Almost 24 departments are utilizing only 30% of the total budget. In simple terms, it means we get Rs 100 and the state government along with the minister and bureaucrats spend only Rs 30. So what happens to Rs 70. It will go back to the Central Government coffers. So does the state government benefit? No way. There are lot of State government departments where we need infrastructure. So why do the government and the bureaucrats not utilize 100% of the budget. There are a lot of departments which require funds, for instance the highways. We don’t have proper facilities: bathrooms, restrooms at tourist locations. These works could be undertaken.
Secondly, if the budget is under-utilized, the next year the budget for the state will be reduced. Centre will say, we gave you Rs 100 you spent only Rs 30, so next year we will give you only Rs 50.
Anthony D’Silva Social Activist
The Chief Minister has made a statement that 24 departments have spent only 30% of the funds allocated to them. 70% has not been utilized and he is advising them to exhaust it as soon as possible. In other words he is telling them to spend it anyhow. I want to give one example by way of clarification to the CM. Under Viksit Bharat one project was undertaken, that was improvement of infrastructure around Kadamba Bus Stand. It was billed for Rs 70 lakhs. There they claimed that 16 JCB, 16 trucks and 150 labourers were utilized. This was like an air show. Was there an air show there? What work did so many vehicles do in such a small place? What did they actually do? I want a clarification from the chief minister. This is happened under your department. And whether this is the way that you want them to exhaust the remaining 70% funds which are under your department.
Savio Coutinho Convenor, Shadow Council
