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Help others be BETTER INFORMED ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Different ministries to give Goa more funds in addition to outlay: CM --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat has said that different ministries of the central government have agreed to allocate more funds to Goa, in addition to the state's budget outlay for various developmental projects. Addressing a press conference on his return to the state after attending the meeting with the Planning Commission deputy chairman, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, along with the Finance Minister, Mr Dayanand Narvekar, the Chief Minister said that he would work hard to get funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore for the development and progress of Goa. Mr Kamat also said that the state would be treated as a special case for allocation of funds for promotion of tourism and that Goa would be projected as an international tourist destination by the Union government. He further said that the central authorities have agreed to give additional funds for raising tourist police force in the state, which would be deployed on beaches and other places of tourist interest in Goa to provide protection to the tourists. The Chief Minister went on to add that the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and the Planning Commission was reminded of the promises made to the state by the Prime Minister including funds for national highways, internal roads and for construction of infrastructure for hosting 2011 National Games and that adequate arrangements were made to honour the promise of Dr Singh, by the Planning Commission in the outlay. He also said that Goa's budget allocation for the next financial year has been raised from Rs 1,430 crore to Rs 1,737.65 crore, an increase over Rs 300 crore or 21 per cent as compared to the existing financial year. The Chief Minister said that the Union Tourism Minister, Ms Ambika Soni, has agreed to give additional funds aimed at creating infrastructure for promotion of tourism in the state and that funds amounting between Rs 40-50 crore would be made available separately. He further said that the drawbacks faced by him in running the state administration did not hamper him in presenting the state's cause before the central authorities and getting the best ever deal from it. The Finance Minister said that the state's persistent efforts in convincing the central authorities in devolution of more funds to Goa have been paid off and that state would get funds amounting to Rs 2,000 crore, a figure that it never reached since its liberation. He said that Goa contributed Rs 9,478 crore to the central kitty last financial year (2006-07) but got just Rs 400.60 crore (corresponding to 4.22 per cent) in central funding of its huge contribution. Stating that the state's development and economy was headed in the right direction, he also said that the central government has agreed to meet the shortfall of Rs 172.97 crore in the budget. The Finance Minister further said that the state's ministers would have to work hard to get the benefit of the central government schemes and funds allocated for them. "Let them explore all the avenues to get the schemes and funds, he said adding that they would also have to show accountability by properly utilising the funds. He said Goa needed better infrastructure and that his colleagues would have to frame schemes and ensure their proper implementation for the purpose. He also said that Goa would need Rs 230 crore to meet the extra expenditure that it would have to incur in paying the salaries of the government servants once the VI Pay Commission report was implemented. He further said that Goa would have to have a corpus of Rs 1,500 crore to meet the requirement of pensioners over the next eight years and that he had planned to set aside a fund of Rs 100 crore from the new financial year. The PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao was also present. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 20/03/08 page 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ------------------------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa --------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----------------------------------------------