Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) gave a representation to the the 15th Finance Commission on how the State of Goa can be pulled out of the present crisis.
The representation mentions that out of Goa’s total area of 3,702 sq km, 34.75% is forest land and about 40 % is under agriculture, leaving barely 20% for developmental activities.
The note also highlighted how the ban on mining adversely impacted lakhs of locals, almost all sectors of the economy and the State’s revenue.
“We request the Finance Commission to kindly take a note of the government’s efforts to protect the environment while deciding on the allocation of funds,” said GCCI.
The representation further stated that Goa has adopted a prudent fiscal policy and kept the deficit and debt stock, related to the Gross State Domestic Product at a sustainable level and that the govt’s efforts should be rewarded with suitable grants to meet developmental needs of the State.
“We request a special grant of Rs 1000 crore to the Electricity Department to help it in executing the pending projects speedily and improving the much needed underground Transmission system in the state,” says the representation.
Similarly it has also requested a special grant of Rs 200 crore for the PWD so that water supply systems, including raw water supply channel could be developed. “We request the Finance Commission to recommend a special grant of Rs 1,000 crore to the government for the specific purpose of creating a Convention Centre,” GCCI added.
