VASCO: The Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) has urged the chief minister to extend the debt relief scheme by six more months and also to exempt them from the barge tax on the lines of mining affected trucks of Goa. 

The GBOA has also urged the CM’s office to get the co-operative banks accept the debt relief scheme like nationalised banks made for barges. 30 to 35 barges still remain hypothecate to various financial institutions for the last six years of mining ban. 

GBOA President Raymond Desa said, “We request the extension of the scheme period, because if the period is over and the banks won’t spare us. It is an attempt on the part of GBOA to give our members an opportunity to pay back the loan.”

The GBOA has requested the government to amend the MMRD ACT and resume mining soon for the benefit all the stakeholders.

On the non-compliance of co-operative bank sector, Raymond said, “We have written to the EDC and screening committee informing that the scheme of debt relief has not reached the cooperative banks. The co-operative banks have been evasive. However, the process has begun and we request that the scheme be extended for both of co-operative and nationalised banks.”

The GBOA has requested the government to lend them soft loan upto Rs 60 lakh to enable them to undertake the costly repair of the barges. “The barge owners themselves know how they have repaired the barges for the last 6 years. Hence the resumption of mining business has become most important for its stakeholders,” the president said. 

The GBOA informed that Rs 89 crore in nationalised and Rs 66 crore in co-operative sectors is the amount of present debts. “Rs 263 crore of loan in nationalised bank is reduced to Rs 23 crore because of the intelligent scheme formulated by Chief Minister Parrikar and Government of Goa. The co-operative banks have ignored the nullification of interest and also give the 30% waiver of principle amount,” a GBOA member said.

Requesting the exemption of barge tax, the GBOA said, “The CM had promised earlier to exempt us of the barge tax as the barges never functioned after the mining ban. The barge tax exemption has already been discussed in the Goa Legislative Assembly. However, the Captain of Ports Department, Finance Department and the Road Transport Office are understanding the circular of government in different ways and waiver is still not been given. We have demanded 100% barge tax exemption in lines of trucks road tax waiver.”