PANJIM: Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Tuesday appealed to the newly-formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government to prepare a road map towards development of the State for the next 25 years, and appealed to the members of the House to make steadfast efforts to place the State on faster growth.
In a 90-minute address to the House, the Governor said that the government is putting in all efforts to resume iron ore mining activities, to promote and encourage more international chartered flights and to improve the revenue of the State. He also said that by 2029, Goa targets to become the first achiever in sustainable development growth.
Pillai was addressing the House as the opening remarks it being the new Legislative Assembly as well as it being the first session of the year. In his address, he laid emphasis on various achievements of the past government.
The Governor also congratulated the people of the State for political maturity and the election officers for conduct of free and fair State Assembly elections.
“I shall request you all to participate in India @75 Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and prepare a roadmap towards the development for next 25 years,” the Governor said.
He informed the House that State had received Rs 150 cr out of Rs 300 cr from the Government of India towards infrastructure development for celebrating 60 years of Goa’s Liberation.
The Governor said that all members need to work to attain ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’.
“I am confident that all members will maintain dignity, decorum, morals and values and will make steadfast efforts to place the State on a faster growth track of inclusive sustainable development and realise the dream of golden Goa,” he said.
He welcomed the State government’s approach towards curbing drug peddling in the State. “Strict vigil has been kept on drug peddlers and intensified action against drug menace,” he said.
The Governor also said that the government is working towards making Goa an accident-free State.
With no concrete assurance on resumption of iron ore mining operations, the Governor said that the efforts for resumption of mining activities in the State are on for stability and employment in the mining dependent villages.
He said that State has earned royalty of Rs 116.12 crore during the current financial year from extraction of major and minor minerals.
The Governor commended the efforts put in by the government to curb the spread of second and third wave of COVID-19 and the success achieved on the vaccination front.
“Development journey during the COVID-19 pandemic time was not easy. The State has become the role model due to our determination, self confidence, astute leadership, support and cooperation of the members of the House and the citizens,” he said.
He said that the Swayampurana Goem initiative is a role model for the rest of India. “Goa has a per capita income of Rs 5.04 lakh which is the highest in the country portraying a robust and healthy economy,” he added.
Further, the Governor informed the House that the work of construction of the new international airport at Mopa is progressing at a rapid pace and is expected to be completed by August, 2022.
