PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that under the infrastructure tax, government is drafting a scheme which will be ready by August 31 wherein consumers can avail a facility at reasonable rate.
“Since we are taking infrastructure tax, I had declared in my Budget (2014-15) that government will ensure that infrastructure is delivered up to a particular point at a reasonable rate. The scheme is in drafting stage. It may be implemented by August 31,” he told the House.
The Chief Minister was responding to a question by Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte seeking to know the connectivity which government provides, is as per JERC norm or as per infrastructure tax.
“…since he is mixing up the issue… as per JERC norm, all costs for infrastructure tax has to be borne by the consumers. The rate is fixed…If transformer is required, there is tender for that also…” he said, before speaking about the budget speech.
In the budget speech, during the year, an infrastructure creation scheme would be made operational where the Government would ensure guaranteed infrastructure of road, water and electricity to all the housing and commercial projects which has paid the appropriate Infrastructure Tax. He had said that he has provided Rs 25 crore for the same.
In reply to a stared question by the legislator, Power Minister Milind Naik informed that high powered coordination committee approval was necessary for any industrial project while for other projects, the approval was not mandatory.
Khaunte had alleged that industries were not getting proper power connections and urged that permissions for new connections be stopped. The minister then replied that he will hold a discussion with the chief minister on this, but the department would not stop granting permissions for power for residential premises.
The independent MLA claimed that Goa is the only place where the Power Department is making a profit. Parrikar clarified that ‘we have subsidized Goa electricity board by Rs 179 crore last year.’
