PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday said that while requesting for a grant of Rs 6,333 crore from the Finance Commission to the State, Goa has not sought any special financial package to compensate for the loss due to the closure of mining operations.
“We discussed with the Finance Commission about the revenue loss due to the ceasing of mining activity in the State. However, the State has been spending more than Rs 50 crore annually for three years now, more than the usual from its budget. We also highlighted before the Commission that even after the mining ban there is not a single case of suicide which means we are taking care of the mining affected people,” Sawant said.
He added “For the sustainable and overall development of the State we have asked for approximately Rs 6,333 crore funding, under different heads, for the betterment of the State. I am sure they will consider our request. We also understand that there are several parameters for arriving at a decision on funding.” This request is for 2020-21.
Since Goa is yet to form its State Finance Commission and as requested by the Finance Commission, the Chief Minister said, “We shall be setting up our State Finance Commission as soon as possible.”
The focus will now be to spread tourists to the hinterland and not just concentrate on the coastal areas. “To attain this we have to develop infrastructure for tourists in the hinterlands of Goa and we discussed this with the Finance Commission.”
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The Finance Commission also suggested that the State focus on tourism and agriculture, particularly in organic farming. However, the heartening news is that in Human Developmental Index, Goa ranks third in the country.
The Commission also stated that since Goa falls in the coastal area, it needs to further strengthen its State Disaster Management.
The Commission has asked the Goa government to furnish data on the total number of days spent in the State by foreign tourists. The team of the 15th Finance Commission, led by NK Singh, arrived in the State on January 23 for a two-day tour, met with several stakeholders, including the political parties.
