PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday urged NITI Aayog to bring amendments to resume iron ore mining and sand mining in Goa and suggested vertical mobility for infrastructure projects given Goa’s small land mass. He also sought the Centre’s intervention in the River Mhadei dispute.
Sawant informed NITI Aayog that Goa is eligible for Rs 1000 crore special assistance for successful implementation of various reforms including ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ system, Ease of Doing Business, Strengthening of local bodies, reforms in ULB and reforms in power sector.
Attending the sixth NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, virtually, Sawant urged the Aayog to consider the State for the special assistance.
Given the land constraints of the State, the Centre should preferentially allot projects which have scope for vertical mobility to Goa, Sawant asserted in meeting.
He pointed out that Goa is a small State having an area of 3700 square metres. Of this, 67 per cent was forest coverage and with restrictions on developments in CRZ, wetland, eco sensitive zones, private forest etc, only 30 per cent land was actually available for development purpose, he said adding that it was not possible to allow huge lands for Central government infrastructure projects.
He suggested that only vertical mobility was possible and to give to it whenever Government of India assigns infrastructure projects to Goa.
Sawant said that Goa has aligned with the spirit of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ with the ‘Swayampurna Goa’ initiative programme, which is being accelerated across sectors like agriculture, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure and optimum governance modules.
The Chief Minister said that in the ongoing 60th year of Liberation, Goa intends to become Swayampurna in various aspects.
Sawant also sought the Centre’s intervention in the River Mhadei diversion issue. He said that salinity testing of the water has already been done and any diversion of the river water will further increase the salinity and the State will face major water shortage.
Sawant said that the Mhadei is a very serious and sensitive issue and can have some serious problems.
He informed NITI Aayog of the government’s proposal to set up Convention Centre in North Goa and a second Medical College in South Goa on public-private partnership (PPP) basis. He also urged Centre to give a medical device park in Goa.
Sawant said that Goa is the only State to use Receivable Exchange of India Ltd (RXIL) platform to provide Rs 500 crore to MSMEs.
Further, the Chief Minister thanked Union government for allocating Rs 965 crore to Goa Shipyard Ltd under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
He also thanked the Centre for the Rs 24 crore financial assistance for undertaking research and for measures for protection of marine life and ecosystem in the coastal region of Goa.
He thanked the Prime Minister as well as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the allocation of Rs 300 crore towards Goa’s 60th Liberation year celebration.
