MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will present the State Budget 2023-24 in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, March 29. Six important government bills will be introduced during the brief session commencing from Monday.
Also as many as 803 starred and un-starred questions to be tabled while, the Economic Survey 2022-23 will also be tabled during the four-day session.
Secretary (Legislature) Namrata Ulman said that 207 starred and 596 un-starred questions, totalling to 803 questions, to be tabled during the Budget session. The business also includes voting of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2022-23 (Third Batch) on the first day.
The last day has been reserved for Private Members wherein resolutions moved by MLAs will be discussed. In addition to these resolutions, the government will introduce and pass six important bills. Of the six bills, the ‘The Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Bill 2023’, which seeks to impose restrictions on the transfer of agricultural land to preserve and protect paddy cultivation will also be introduced and in this session. The draft of the bill was approved by the State Cabinet last week.
The Economic Survey 2022-23 will be tabled by the Chief Minister. There will be no session on March 30, on account of Ram Navami. The Chief Minister will seek Vote On Account on the last day
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had earlier said, “This Budget will be a realistic and futuristic. There are new schemes under Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Value Added Tax (VAT).”
However, the Opposition parties have criticised the government for curtailing the Assembly session. Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “The government is curtailing the Assembly session instead of curtailing the wasteful expenditure.”
Aam Aadmi Party’s Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said, “This Budget will be a ‘Jumla Budget’. There will be great assurances, but the fulfilment of the Budget will be zero per cent,” he said.
