PANJIM: Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Monday indirectly blamed the former Congress government, without naming it, for leaving the State’s finances under “stress” and with “debt liability,” while delivering her address on the first day of the State Legislative Assembly’s Budget session, on Monday.
Assuring that mining activities in the State would be started soon, Sinha assured the House that her government was actively working to revise the annual iron ore cap of 20 million tonnes fixed by the Supreme Court. Citing prudent fiscal management, the government was successful in ensuring that the State continued on the path of progress and prioritized social sector spending for the benefit of the people, she said.
“The State having successfully countered the global economic slowdown of the recent years was pushed into a tight financial position due to stoppage of mining in the State resulting from Supreme Court orders,” Sinha said. “The situation was compounded by the fact that my government had taken over the reins of the State at a time when the financial health was stressed and debt liabilities were on the rise,” she said, without naming the former Congress-led government.
The Governor, however, could not complete her written speech as she took ill while speaking. Her speech was later tabled in the House.
The Governor said that despite the financial crunch, the government continued creating capital assets to provide the much-needed fillip to the State’s economy. “The increased growth rate of Gross State Domestic Product at constant prices from 4.17 per cent in 2012, to 7.71 per cent in 2013-14 is the testimony to the government’s efforts and resolve,” Sinha said.
Pointing to the various measures initiated by the government for the failure of the mining dependents and for resumption of mining activities, Sinha assured that government will continue to undertake necessary measures to see that the mining industry is re-started and achieves its full potential to strengthen the State’s economy and support the livelihood of the dependent people.
“Government is also making all efforts to get the current cap revised by the Supreme Court and would ensure regulation of mining activity keeping in view the social, ecological and environmental factors,” the Governor told the House, informing about the recent revocation of environment clearances (ECs) by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
In her 40-minute speech, the Governor informed the House about her government’s intention of further upgrading and revamping the health infrastructure and services for increasing accessibility and quality of health care. She also said that at present the thrust of the government is to improve the quality of education, at all levels, by introducing modern e-learning and teaching.
Sinha said that the State, which is presently under the value added tax (VAT) system, is now gearing up for the proposed new taxation system of Goods and Service Tax (GST). “Overall my government is very keen on continuing with efforts to place the State on a faster growth track and inclusive development with the active support and co-operation of all stakeholders, in keeping with the call of our Prime Minister for ensuring ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’,” she said.
