PANJIM: The State budget presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday evoked mixed reaction with opposition parties dismissing it as old wine in new bottle while, the ruling BJP hailed it as pro-people budget.
Reacting to the budget, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao said that the budget is a carry forward exercise with maximum announcements and minimum achievements.
“Chief Minister has proposed to generate revenue of Rs 800 crore from mining and GST share of the State. No one knows when the mining will actually start in Goa. Tourism sector, which is the second backbone of Goa’s economy, is also at all-time low. The budget is like Smart City Mission, which will land the economy in potholes of revenue and fiscal deficit,” Alemao said.
The LoP urged the Chief Minister to use the funds judiciously and adopt austerity measures, keeping in mind the beneficiaries of various social welfare schemes.
Goa is in for difficult times: Vijai
Starting that the budget was disappointing, Goa Forward Party president and MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “There is nothing substantial, and nothing to combat the alarming fiscal deficit The government has brought about by sheer financial mismanagement and lack of application. Goa is in for difficult times.”
There is something for everyone: Tanavade
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade complimented Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for presenting all encompassing budget in the assembly.
He said, “The speciality of this budget is that it contains something of the other for every section of society. Chief Minister had heard the requirements of all sectors before preparing this budget and it is very much reflected in the budget.”
BJP general secretary Adv Yatish Naik said that the budget is intended to stimulate growth while focussing on the all round development of the State. The budget has laid thrust on creating jobs through various measures including emphasis on skill development and Information Technology. CM has proposed several citizen-friendly measures. The budget is thus a visionary document which will usher in good governance on the tourchstone of the principles of Swayampurna Goa and Antyodaya.
Budget promising only on paper: Aman Lotlikar
Aman Lotlikar of Congress said that though the budget looks promising on paper but whether it will turn out to be fruitful for Goans, only time will tell. There are many good inclusions in this budget for some sectors and there seem to be a ray of hope in the mining sector through which numerous small time businesses will also thrive in those respective localities.
Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) has thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for accepting its budget proposals including allotment of a space for Patrakar Bhavan in the proposed administrative building at Patto-Panjim.
Sawant also proposed to enhance the existing journalists’ monthly pension of Rs. 8,500 by Rs 1,500. After revision, the monthly pension amount will be Rs 10,000 per month.
The chief minister also announced e-bikes for journalists.
