Rs 49 cr central aid, copter for patrolling Goa beaches
PANJIM, MARCH 22
The Central Government has assured Goa to provide a helicopter for patrolling beaches and financial assistance of Rs 49 crore while making beach safety a top priority, Governor Dr S S Siddu said in his customary address to the Goa Assembly on Monday.
The Governor also mentioned about various safety measures adopted by the Government for safety of tourists. While the Government has put in place an Advanced Beach Safety Management system by virtue of which the death rate due to drowning has been substantially reduced, the Central Government has also offered to help in this task of beach safety.
The Ministry of Tourism of the Central Government has assured fund maintenance and to finance cleanliness of two of the important beaches. Also, for patrolling of beaches, a helicopter has also been promised by the Centre in addition to financial assistance of Rs 49 crore, he said.
Referring to development in the tourism sector which is a mainstay of the Goan economy, he said though due to global recession and terrorist threat perception, the growth in number of tourist arrival has been adversely affected, the domestic tourists arrived in large numbers and made up the loss.
As many as 21,27,063 domestic tourists and 3,76,640 international tourists visited the State during 2009-10, he informed.
GROWTH RATE: The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rate had gone down by 50% last financial year compared to the pervious year due to effects of economic recession and now is steadily growing even as public spending has gone up.
Governor in his address said GSDP though was adversely affected by the shadow of economic slowdown, had started receding due to fiscal stimulus infused by the Central Government for revival of the economy.
He said, the GSDP growth rate of 14.13 per cent during 2007-08 came down to 7.2 per cent during 2008-09, the State economy has, however, started showing signs of revival and is likely to achieve a double digit GSDP during 2009-10.
He further said that his Government has laid greater emphasis on public spending and, therefore, the plan size for 2009-10 was increased by a substantial 29 per cent.
“The Government intends to continue the growth trend further and bring about significant changes in the lives of the people. Let me assure the House that the Government would do its best in its endeavour to accelerate the pace of development and the welfare of the common man with all sincerity and dedication”, he stated in his address.
Indicating that the Government has done better on the economic front, he said, the State utilised 93 per cent of 98 per cent of total State Plan allocation during first two years of eleventh Five year plan and entire state plan allocation would be utilised by end of this financial year.
“My Government has registered a compound annual growth rate of 10.7 per cent during the first two years of the eleventh plan 2006-07 to 2008-09 which is higher than the national target of 9 per cent fixed by the Planning Commission for the eleventh Five year plan,” he said.
Besides, he said, the Government is working hard to achieve a fast inclusive growth by laying greater emphasis on strengthening social security net, enhancing the level of quality education, improving the health care facilities, modernising and up-grading the existing infrastructure and also creating additional infrastructure.
MODERNISATION OF POLICE FORCE: To modernise the police force, the Government of India has provided Rs 5 crore to set-up Centralised Control room and 60 PCR vans, the Governor informed.
The total strength of Home Guards in Goa has been enhanced to 750. The road safety patrol scheme has been initiated in 31 schools and 540 students have been trained so far, he added.
In its initiative to modernise police force, the Government has set-up five police help lines at PCR Panjim and three lines at PCR Margao. The Government has launched 30 mobile petrol motor cycles on June 29, 2009 to strengthen the police presence on the streets of Goa.
He also applauded Goa Police for their commendable job during explosion in Margao in October 2009. They reached to the spot immediately and collected vital information which provided break-through clues for investigation. Two live IED were defused by Goa police.
FIFTY YEARS OF LIBERATION: The State Government has plans to celebrate 50 years of Liberation. The Government plans to have a year-long celebration commencing from December 19, this year. For this, a State level 50 years of Liberation Committee comprising of all segments of the society will be constituted to make its truly people’s celebrations, he informed.
