Says consider population density while allocating funds
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa government has demanded that share from the personal income tax to the State be raised from the existing .266 per cent to encourage central taxes to State treasury while it also urged the Centre to consider its population density while allocating funds.
“… The important aspect which we are stressing is that Goa should get more component from the share. We are getting .266%. We were getting .48% in the year 1964-65, so why has it been reduced? We are demanding that you (Centre) bring it up (raise the share percentage). It may not be .48% but you have a cut off limit,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told a section of the media following a meeting of the council of ministers with the members of 14th Finance Commission in the capital on Wednesday.
In its memorandum before the Commission headed by Chairman YV Reddy, Parrikar highlighted that Centre consider population based on the density while allocating funds to the States.
“I have said that with regards to any State, one has to take into consideration while calculating the population take density and while calculating density remove the areas which are wildlife, forest and CRZ because I can’t put people in wildlife, I can’t develop wildlife… it is almost half…” he explained.
The chief minister also asked to consider parameters like mobile population in the State, over contribution to Central government’s kitty, high level of greenery and affluence, which should be given 25 percent weightage. “That is our demand. They (Commission) have asked us to put the details. We have to give a report to them,” he added while also mentioning the Commission members were “comfortable with the (State government’s) presentation.”
In addition to this, Parrikar also opined this step will give liberty to government from imposing professional taxes, an idea which
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was earlier mooted by the State government and rejected by the citizens. “The most important suggestion I have made is that instead of professional tax, the State may be permitted to charge a small amount of component in Income Tax… professional tax is a derogatory form of tax, so the collection from income tax component will contribute for the revenue. Say, out of 30 percent income tax collected, let 28 per cent go to Centre and two per cent remain with the State… like that it will promote generation of Central tax into the State,” he suggested.
The tremendous impact due to mining ban was also discussed wherein the Commission raised certain queries from the State government to which the latter has assured to reply. The Commission is expected to release its report by July while the implementation will be next year.
Deputy CM Francis D’Souza said that many Central schemes have imposed conditions which make it difficult for the State to fulfil. He requested the Commission that States be given the flexibility to modify the Central government’s scheme to suit requirements of each State for effective implementation.
He also observed that the functions of local bodies are minimal as most of the things are executed by the State. “Many functions of local bodies are overlapping. State Government also cannot devolve powers to the State being too small, with lesser population,” he added. Stating that the State suffers due to obvious reasons, he pleaded to leave the State out of the Schemes or provide one-time package in lieu of the Scheme.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar told reporters that the State has made demands in 10-12 sectors including Rs 400-500 crore for International Film Festival of India which will include setting up of convention centre among other infrastructures.
“Goa is a developed State, norms are high and thus it does not fit in the parameters of the Central schemes. We have requested to change those parameters…We have shown our losses,” he said.
Under sewerage system, Dhavalikar said it has asked for Rs 2500 crore while for infrastructure and tourism, it needs Rs 5000 crore each.
Reddy felt the need to supplement and consolidate the funds of the State looking at various possible ways of generating revenue, and urged to constitute a District Planning Committee.
PARRIKAR TALK
The important aspect which we are stressing is that Goa should get more component from the share. We are getting .266%. We were getting .48% in the year 1964-65, so why has it been reduced? We are demanding that you (Centre) bring it up (raise the share percentage). It may not be .48% but you have a cut off limit
