Team Herald
PANJIM: A mining package for the State, exemption of export duty for high-grade ore and also share of VAT in the GAIL piped gas were some of the demands Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant made to the Centre at the pre-budget meeting.
Sawant, who also holds the Finance portfolio, is in Delhi to attend the pre-budget consultation meeting, hosted by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. After the meeting he tweeted, “Attended pre-budget consultation meeting chaired by the Union Minister of Finance Smt @nsitharaman. Sought mining package, support for hinterland tourism, land acquisition package for expressway from NH66 to Mopa Airport, exemption of export duty for high grade ore and also share of VAT in GAIL piped gas.”
Goa’s mining industry is currently going through a crisis after the Supreme Court last year quashed 88 leases bringing the sector to a standstill. As per rough estimates, around two lakh people who were directly or indirectly dependent on this industry have been facing the brunt of the closure.
Besides mining, the chief minister has also sought a package for land acquisition for the expressway from NH66 to Mopa Airport and also share of VAT in GAIL piped gas.
