PANJIM: A day after the Lokayukta recommended a CBI inquiry into the renewal of mining leases, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the report was “recommendatory” and not binding on the government.

Reacting to the news, Sawant said, “I have received the report today and let me go through it first and then I will react. Anyways, the Lokayukta report is just recommendatory and not binding on the government.”

Asked about his visit to Delhi, the Chief Minister said it was fruitful as he met a few Union Ministers and discussed Goa-related issues.

On mining he said, “I am hopeful something will happen soon. Just wait for some time.”

Asked whether Lokayukta report will have any impact on the mining case in the Supreme Court, he said, “Lokayukta order will not have any impact on the review petition on mining filed by Goa government before the Supreme Court.”

The Chief Minister also held meetings with party MLAs to discuss the preparation of the State Budget, which would be presented during the upcoming Legislative Assembly session.

Sawant told the media after the meeting that various aspects of the Budget were discussed with the party MLAs, whose detailed inputs would be considered while drafting the Budget.

The Chief Minister said that he would individually meet all the ministers and MLAs to consider their suggestions on the budget. “I have already begun drafting the Budget,” he said.

The Budget session will be held from February 3 to February 7, 2020. Sawant said the exact date of presenting the Budget is yet to be decided.