PANJIM, MARCH 25
The Nationalist Congress Party, an ally of the Congress-led government, today termed the Budget presented by the Chief Minister as “unrealistic”.
“The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said that the budget is Agriculture and education centric which does not seem to be the case,” NCP spokesperson Avinash Bhonsale told Herald reacting to the budget presented today in the assembly.
“He says budget is education centric and on the other hand scrapped the Cyberage scheme and robbed the children of a good scheme which could help them in future,” he said.
“Also, he (Kamat) talks of agriculture but tell me where is the land available to cultivate in Goa?” Bhonsale asked.
“The announcements are all on paper and unrealistic,” he said.
“We need a budget which can be implemented. There are so many schemes announced last year which have not yet been implemented,” he said adding “the Budget has lost its sanctity.”
Pointing out to the Vision Document 2050 for Goa, the NCP spokesperson said, “Forget the vision document the government is not even able to finalise the Regional Plan 2021 for last three years.”
“Last two to three years we are just struggling to prepare a Regional Plan and only discussing and debating on it,” he said.
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 25
Criticising the government for scrapping the Cyberage Scheme, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party today said that the budget presented by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat does not have a focus.
Parrikar termed the decision to scrap Cyberage was taken only to settle scores with some minister. “I guess the decision was taken to clip the wings of some minister,” he said. “The budget lacks focus,” Parrikar said addressing a press conference.
“When Kamat was a minister in my cabinet he was on record saying when Congress government comes to power forget the computers, students will not even get the cabinet,” he said adding “… and today he has lived true to his statement.” He also said there was no need to give 10 computers to the schools as they already have the computer labs.
“Besides giving computers to schools will be of no use to students as most of them are closed by 5 pm and others by 2.30 pm,” he said adding there will be no chance for the students to converse themselves with computers. Parrikar said that the figures shown are hypothetical.
“Kamat has tried to bring down the deficit and also tried to show inflated figures of revenue,” he said adding “the figures only look good on paper”.
“The fiscal deficit which has been shown as 610 cr will go at least 900 cr. In 2008-09 the deficit was shown as 500 to 600 cr while in actually it turned out to be over 900 cr,” he said. Substantiating his claim, Parrikar said that the number of posts created, which have been approved by the cabinet but awaiting appointment are 2000. “This itself will put a extra financial burden of Rs 50 cr,” he said.
