IT policy to be ready in a month: CM

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the State Legislative Assembly that IT policy for the state of Goa will be ready in another month’s time.

Parsekar said that the draft policy is ready and suggestions have also been received from IT experts and industry people. In the next month, the suggestions will be revived and finalized by the government.

Parsekar said that the IT consultant is finalized and the planning for the IT park at Chimbel and electronic city at Tuem will be done shortly. He said that in the next two years, huge employment generation will be created for IT students passing out annually.

Canacona Police Station prime accused in Ruby Residency collapse

V K Jha Commission of Inquiry has listed Canacona Police Station as one of the ‘prime accused’ in the Ruby Residency building tragedy in January, last year, for failing to act against the culprits in June 2012, when the said building had collapsed for the first time, two years before the tragic incident in 2014, killing 31 people. 

The Commission has also fixed responsibility on the eight government officials of the rank of town planning, municipal administrator, local chief municipal council and deputy collector along with the builders and contractors attached with the M/s Bharat Developers and Realtors pvt ltd for the collapse of the building that killed 31 and left many more injured.

CM slams Sawal after MLA criticized 

Lusofonia infrastructure

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar slammed Independent MLA Naresh Sawal, who claimed that the Lusofonia Games infrastructure is nothing but “monuments” and a “white elephant”.  He also defended allegations that the government has failed to make judicious use of people’s money while undertaking construction of infrastructure for the Lusofonia Games 2014 and the upcoming National Games 2016.

The issue came up when Sawal demanded the setting up of a Sports Academy in the State to ensure that sports infrastructure is maintained and developed for future generations. 

Replying to this, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar informed the House that the government is concentrating on development of infrastructure for the National Games.

Legislators demand chambers for MLAs in Assembly

The Speaker of Goa State Legislative Assembly assured to establish a separate chamber for all the elected Members of Legislative Assembly in the Goa Assembly complex. On the final day of the monsoon session, legislators demanded a separate MLA’s chamber in the Assembly complex, claiming lack of space for MLA’s to function during their visit to the Secretariat. 

Responding to the demands put forth by legislators – including leader of opposition – Speaker Rajendra Arlekar said, “We are working towards your proposal. We will give chambers for MLAs.” 

Assembly’s paperless session initiative successful

The Goa State Legislative Assembly’s debut initiative in India to convert the proceedings of the Assembly session into a paperless affair has turned out to be a very successful move, as more than Rs. 1.46 crore was saved – Rs. 64.91 lakh through paper cost and Rs. 81.14 lakh through printing and Xerox costs – as 15 days of the monsoon session of 2015 came to an end. 

Adding to the success of the paperless session, the house saved the cutting of 1298 trees for the production of papers. As per international counting, one tree can produce 7,500 papers. In the meantime, more than one crore A4 size papers were saved because of the assembly’s move to implement a paperless session for the first time in India.   

Select committee formed to discuss Goa Entertainment Tax Bill

A select committee has been formed to discuss the tabled Goa Entertainment Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2015, as the opposition panel opposed the bill on the final day of the monsoon session. An 8 member select committee has been formed by the house - chaired by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and will include Mauvin Godinho, Rohan Khaunte, Vishnu Wagh, Siddharth Kunkolienkar, Michael Lobo, Subhash Phaldessai and Kiran Kandolkar. 

Speaking on the floor of the house, Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane said, “You are holding the owner of the land responsible for the person who has taken his land on lease for a certain time and doesn’t pay the entertainment tax. You can’t hold the third party responsible unless he gives a guarantee assurance.

Assembly passes 5 bills and introduces 2 private member bills

The State Legislative Assembly passed 5 bills and introduced 2 private member bills on the last day of the monsoon session.  The Goa Appropriate (No.3) Bill, 2015, the Goa Appropriate (No.2) Bill, 2015, the Goa Valued Added Tax (Eight Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Goa Motor Vehicles Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Goa Contingency Fund (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2015were opened for discussion and were later passed in the house.