log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday KEY TAKEAWAYS THURSDAY MARCH 30, 2023 14 pages Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.281 ADMINISTRATION Vehicle scrapping policy Prepaid cardbased ticketing system at KTC Fund for accident victims PUBLIC WORKS DEPT MINES & GEOLOGY Second Part of Zuari Bridge to be opened for traffic by Dec Single Window Mobile App, One app for all services Sand mining licences in four areas of Chopdem riverNod for extraction of minor minerals from Zuari river SPORTS Appointment of 150 PE teachers on contract Digitization of services for booking sports facilities Govt jobs to national and international level gold medalist sportspersons RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 TRANSPORT To outsource non-managerial staff, monitor grant utilization Time bound delivery of public services on cards Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday > See Page 14 RENEWABLE ENERGY PANCHAYATS Green Goa Policy for environment Salaries of sarpanchas, panchas sustainabilitySolar power generation target hikedMechanism to ensure timely release of of 300 MW EV scheme to be re-launched salaries Additional funds for ZP works INFO TECH FISHERIES All govt offices to be paperless with ‘e-office’ Marine wing to strengthen sea patrolling software Fibre network across the State with 10 river cages for fish tech, mussel farming ‘Har Ghar Fibre’Push for Goa as IT Hub Shrimp & Fin Fish hatchery at Benaulim BUDGET SPRINKLES GOODNESS SAWANT PRESENTS `26,844 CRORE BUDGET`300 CR EARMARKED FOR EIGHT G20 MEETINGSHEALTH, POWER, PUBLIC WORKS, WRD, EDUCATION GET BIG HIKE IN FUNDING THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Pledging a whopping Rs 26,844.40 crore spend, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday presented a Budget spelling out welfare measures and government intervention for almost every section of the Goan populace. The catch, however, will lie in the delivery and pulling it off a feat by March next year. In a speech which topped two hours and delivered intermittently in Konkani and English, Sawant spelt out something or the other for everyone -- from farmers to students, taxi businesses to MSMEs, government employees to daily wagers and people engaged in the unorganised sector. Dwelling on the fiscal profile of his budget, the fourth he presented since taking over the reins of the State, Sawant said a revenue deficit of approximately Rs 800 crore cut in central funding this year due to the discontinuation of GST shortfall compensation but hoped to compensate for it from revenues earned through mining resumption and a spike in the State’s share of Central taxes. “Due to discontinuation of GST compensation, the State will see a revenue deficit of approximately Rs 800 crore NEW PROJECTS MONEY-WISE Rs 7.47 cr Ambedkar Bhavan up at Porvorim Green Hydrogen R&D centre Rs 250 cr for Salvador do Mundo-Chorao bridge Foot over bridge at Fulancho Khuris through grants from Central government. This void will be majorly filled by revenue collection from initiatives taken by my government for restarting of mining activities and increase in the share of Goa in Central taxes,” Sawant said. The chief minister also announced an allocation of Rs 300 crores for the eight G-20 meets Goa is going to host through the year. “I am extremely proud to mention here that Goa is holding the maximum number of eight G-20 meetings. I thank the honourable Prime Minister for providing Goa with an opportunity to showcase its rich cultural diversity,” Sawant said, adding that a total Budget of Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for it across various departments. Sawant also said an additional Rs 15 crore has been set MORE BUDGET COVERAGE PAGES 2, 3, 4, 5 A Swayampurna Goa Board to frame and adopt policies to put the state on a sustainable path Support price for rice, coconut and cashew increased Financial assistance to farmers to purchase drones aside for hosting other prestigious international events such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Also, Goa is finally set to T >Continued on P7 >Continued on P7 150 SHGs & 25 village groups to promote livelihood activities Rs 1.71 crore seed capital for 225 SHGs Free Nachne seeds and financial aid of Rs 20,000 per hectare to farmers New scheme to boost milk production 11 Khazan Bunds to be rebuilt host the National Games this year and Sawant said an amount of Rs 225 crore has been set aside for it. Sawant has also projected a 12.53 per-cent increase in revenue receipts over and above the aggregate government income projected in the revised estimates for the current fi- >> Capex boost for infra >> Govt to install pre-paid smart meters, smart metering to avoid defaulters >> Max 16 per cent Budget allocation for education >> Goa Police Bill to be drafted yet again; likely to be tabled in monsoon session >> New rules to be notified for casinos operations >> GI tag for Bhaji Pav, Fish Curry Rice in the pipeline >> Govt eyeing infra development on PPP >> Twin engines ferries, 5 RO-RO ferry boats to be procured THE GOAN I NETWORK he Bombay High Court at Goa has ordered the State to enforce closure orders passed by GSPCB with respect to activities taking place in the Morjim-Mandrem stretch of beaches. During a hearing on the alleged violations of sound pollution norms, Pollution Board informed the Court that there are 11 structures that were operating without any consent >> See pg 7 to operate. nancial year. He added, that the government has ended up with PANAJI In a move that will give government employees leeway to dig into their wages at any time during the month instead of the current monthend, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant proposed a mechanism in the Budget which will permit withdrawal of wages to the extent earned by the employee at the chosen point in the month. In the course of his nearly two-hour-long Budget speech, Sawant said, Goa government employees will now be able to withdraw their monthly salary on a pro rata basis. The facility will allow employees to overcome any financial emergencies they may come to face in the middle of the month without having to wait for salaries to be credited at month-end. Sawant however did not specify the modalities of the proposal. Other proposals articulated by the Chief Minister in the budget include an online mechanism for seamlessly disbursing salary grants to aided institutions. Sawant said, the mechanism of the cash flows to aided institutions will henceforth be made direct and their employees will get salaries credited directly into their accounts. Similarly, Bal Rath employees will also get the benefit of an identical mechanism. NURTURING A MISSION: SWAYAMPURNA GOA SPECIAL STICKERS ON ‘OUTSIDE’ VEHICLES AT BORDERS Now, HC orders closure of 11 shacks along Mandrem, Morjim beaches THE GOAN I NETWORK Mechanism of cash flows to aided institutions to be made direct and employees will get salaries credited directly into their accounts Bal Rath employees to be paid directly Digital transactions in all social welfare schemes Push for hinterland tourism, govt mulls caravan tours MAPUSA Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday reiterated that the government wants to promote Goa beyond the beaches and proposed Caravan tours to give hinterland tourism a push in the State. The government has also proposed to formulate a home-stay policy in the State. “Home-stay policy aims at streamlining the registration process for home-stays and to provide encouragement to Short of cash? Govt employees can opt to withdraw salary earned mid-month home-stay owners,” Sawant said while allocating a budget of Rs 262.85 crore for tourism this fiscal. He said caravan tours will help tourists to visit the interior parts of the State and also expose them to Goa’s rich culture and heritage. In order to make life easy for tourists who travel by their own transport, the CM said vehicles entering the State will be checked for documents at the State borders. “Special stickers will be fixed on all these vehicles that are checked on the border. These vehicles will not be stopped again for document verification within the State,” Sawant said. >Continued on P7 PUSH FOR ONLINE SERVICES The State government has given online services a major boost by announcing plans to introduce and develop apps, help lines, e-services, digitisation and online portals, in a bid to streamline and improve services, offer paperless facilities and monitor data security in the State. MOBILE APP TO REPORT EXTORTION > Reports on Page 5 Shot in the arm for health sector TWO NURSING COLLEGES TO BE SET UP ICU DEPT & MEDICAL COLLEGE IN SOUTH GOA DISTRICT HOSPITAL CANCER CENTRE TO BE FAST-TRACKED THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA While increasing the budget allocation in the health sector by 18 per cent, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced to set up two nursing colleges in the State and an ICU department and medical college in South Goa District Hospital. The government has earmarked a capital outlay of Rs 172.19 crore to strengthen Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) infrastructure while allotting Rs 10 crore for con- Projects in Mhadei Basin to tackle water woes THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the Water Resources department (WRD) would plan three new projects in the Mhadei Basin at Nirankal, Cajumol and Tatodi having an average storage capacity of 11.21 MCM, 4 MCM and 5.7 MCM respectively. Sawant also announced that rejuvenation of 150 water bodies would be completed under the “Amrit Sarovar” mission of the Prime Minister by March. In his budget speech on River Sal to be rejuvenated MARGAO: The 2023-24 Budget estimates presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has held a promise to rejuvenate the highly contaminated river Sal -- the lifeline of Salcete. The government’s decision to launch rejuvenation of the river Sal assumes significance and comes in the backdrop of the fact that the Centre has 11 polluted rivers have been identified in Goa in the year 2018, out of which river Sal falls under the Priority Class III, with BOD Content between 10-20 mg/l. >> See pg 4 Wednesday, Sawant said that the Government was also ex- ploring and coming out with appropriate plans for utilisa- tion of waters from Mhadei Basin for the benefit of the people. “We have projects which are planned and will be taken up upon following the legal procedure. Our projects will be in accordance with the provisions of the environmental laws. Such projects will be taken up in consonance with our case relating to Mhadei Dispute,” said Sawant. “Three new projects have been proposed by the Government in the Mhadei Basin at Nirankal, Cajumol and >Continued on P7 BOOSTER DOSE FOR HEALTH Generic Jan Aushadhi Kendra at GMC Provision of Rs 233.49 cr to source medicines for GMC Deen Dayal Swashtya Seva Yojna to be streamlined Mediclaim limit increased up to Rs 5 lakh; income limit to claim Mediclaim facility increased to Rs 8 lakh Govt to launch “Goa stroke programme” for treat- ment to stroke patients Centre for autistic children in next financial year New primary health centres in Cuncolim, Candolim Ayush Integrated Hospital in South Goa in December struction of new blood bank, Rs 157.30 crore for construction of respirator medicine hospital and Rs 30.74 for construction of lecture hall at the GMC. Besides announcing a slew of new projects, the CM has also decided to give impetus to existing projects at the hospital providing tertiary care to patients in Bambolim. “We are going to fast track the construction of the cancer centre along with the Tata Hospital,” said Sawant. >Continued on P7 Decks cleared for seamen to get permanent pension SEAFARERS ECSTATIC, THANK GOVT, MLAs THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO After a long wait and struggle, leaving beleaguered seafarers to run from pillar to post for revival of the pension scheme and to make it permanent, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced in his Budget speech to make the Goa Welfare /Pension scheme permanent. The Chief Minister made the announcement during his budget speech when he placed the budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24. The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI), which had been waging a struggle with the government to make the seafarers pension scheme permanent, have welcomed the CM’s announcement, saying the seafarers community is grateful and thankful to Sawant. Launched by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after his return to power in the 2012 Assembly polls following the decimation of the Congress, the Goa Welfare >Continued on P7
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