Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) has urged 15th Finance Commission with a demand for one-time grant of Rs 6,000 crore for the rehabilitation of people affected by closure of iron ore mining activities.
GFP President Vijai Sardesai, in a memorandum submitted to the FC, mentioned that despite collecting huge royalties on export of iron ores since 1963-64, the Centre has not ploughed back anything noteworthy to offset the negative externalities produced by mining.
“Despite the negative externalities, accumulated since 1945-46, taxing Goa, the central government has not come to the aid of the state after closure of mining, especially in order to provide temporary relief to the displaced workers,” he added.
“Therefore, GFP demands that the FFC may sanction a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 crore for the rehabilitation of people affected by closure of mining and to provide them alternative employment till resumption of mining,” he said. Sardesai further stated the amount should be disbursed in tranches of Rs 2,000 crore in FY 2020-21; Rs 1,500 crore in FY 2021-22; Rs 1,000 crore each in FY 2022-3 and FY 2023-24 and Rs 500 crore in FY 2024-25.
GFP said the Commission needs to take special notice of two nationally important events, the completion of 60 years of Goa’s liberation on December 19, 2021 and the 75th anniversary of the Goa Revolution Day on June 18, 2021 and provide a one-time grant of Rs 200 crore to undertake special activities at the State, national and international levels.
“The FFC should reward Goa for being the oldest and only State in the country to peacefully implement the common civil code and, in its report, offer it as a model. GFP demands that FFC must link this best practice to practical and positive monetary benefits to Goa by way of special grants to strengthen the judiciary,” GFP said.
It has also sought Rs 500 crore for management of disasters and for compensation and rehabilitation package for the period 2020-25.
“GFP demands that, on merits of the facts, the FFC must recommend a special allocation formula for state of Goa. If clubbed together with other states, as was done by the Fourteenth Finance Commission, Goa may not be able to survive in the Indian Union as an economically viable and ecologically resilient State,” Sardesai said.
GFP further said that the allocation period of 2020-25 comes at a most critical period for Goa and hence a fair allocation of financial resources for this period will help to repair, restore, rejuvenate and revive the idea of the coastal State.
