log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY MARCH 27, 2025 14 pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 278 Instagram.com/thegoanonline IPL 2025: DE KOCK’S 97 ANCHORS KKR WIN OVER RR >> P14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 BUDGET BRINGS DOWN FISCAL HEAT   PROJECTS `28,162K CR GOVT SPEND THIS YEAR NO NEW TAXES MARITIME     MASTER PLAN FOR TOURISM-RELATED ACTIVITIES UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME TO   BE IMPLEMENTED TAMNAR PROJECT FROM THIS FINANCIAL YEAR EXPERIENCE     CERTIFICATES OF ONE YEAR OR MORE FROM PVT FIRMS VALID FOR LDC POST THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday presented the State's budget for 2025-26, projecting a total government expenditure of Rs 28,162 crore and an income (revenue receipts) of Rs 27,993.97 crore, an overall deficit of Rs 168.03 crore. In an over two-hour speech delivered mostly in Konkani but also interspersed with use of English, Marathi and Hindi, Sawant said the budget estimates a Rs 2,403 crore 'revenue surplus' and a hefty provision for repayment of principal amount to the extent of Rs 1,504 crore towards the State's open market borrowings done ten years ago. This debt repayment provision is nearly Rs 700-odd crore more than what was repaid in the current 2024-25, he said. NO NEW TAXES The chief minister has also spared Goans of any additional or new taxation saying means adopted to block revenue leakages including sanitising rosters of beneficiaries various govt welfare schemes of the bogus recipients of the doles is what will help the government achieve the revenue surplus. Some of the major thrust areas highlighted by Sawant in the budget are tourism, education, public health and a new proposal whereby capital works worth up to Rs 100 crore can be proposed by each MLA for his constituency. 'Vote on Account' appropriation bill passed amidst Oppn ruckus PANAJI: The Goa legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Goa Appropriation Bill, 2025, encompassing a vote-on-account on the budget for six months by a voice-vote even as the entire Opposition raised a ruckus and trooping to the well in protest against not being permitted to speak. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar went through the motion of putting the money bill to the vote of the House and proceeded with playing the national anthem, ignoring the protests of the Opposition memGoa Maritime Board in a bid to prepare a maritime masterplan to tap the State's rivers and inland waters for tourism-related activities. MARITIME BOARD HEALTH Sawant has provided a significant Rs 440 crore allocation to boost the tourism sector and has additionally proposed setting up of a In the health sector, the chief minister has provided Rs 857 crore for the department and an additional Rs bers, before adjourning the House. The full budget, as has been the practice for several years now, will be discussed and voted on by each budget head during the monsoon session normally held in July-August. The vote-on-account appropriation bill passed on Wednesday is a Constitutional requirement to permit the government to appropriate government cash flows in and out of the State Consolidated Fund for the first six months of the new financial year. 900-odd crore for the Goa Medical College and Hospital. He said, more ambulances will be bought and day-care centres will be set up for cancer patients in both the district hospitals. Also, a 120-bedded Chest and TB Hospital Block,100-bedded Critical Care Hospital, Center of Excellence in Endoscopic Skull Surgery and implementation of Hospital Management Info System at GMC were some of the proposals highlighted by Sawant in his budget speech. EDUCATION For the education sector, Sawant has allocated Rs 2800 >Continued on P9 Shot-in-the-arm for police; new headquarters, `1,100 cr boost Goa to enforce mandatory tourist registration on TIME software Geo-mapping of entire State through satellite imagery Mukyamantri scheme: Incentives for cabbies, green transport push Govt announces e-auction of nine more iron ore mining leases Govt to make panchayat services fully online, digital payments introduced Govt to amend law to legalise unauthorised constructions LAND RIGHTS TO GOANS WHO LACK TITLES SOON THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major decision, the State government has decided to amend the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Act, 2016 to facilitate the regularization of illegal constructions up to 1,000 square meters in urban areas and 600 square meters in panchayat areas. While presenting the Budget for 2025-26, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also proposed a policy to grant land ownership rights to Goans who lack legal land titles. “The Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Act, 2016 will be amended to regularize constructions up No need to panic, assures Sawant MAPUSA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the public that there is no need to panic over the recent High Court directive on illegal constructions, emphasising a distinction between illegal and irregular structures. “There is no need for law-abiding citizens to panic. We need to differentiate between illegal and irregular constructions,” Sawant stated while making a brief statement on the floor of the House after the Question Hour.  >> See pg 3 to 1,000 sq mts in urban areas and 600 sq mts in Panchayats. There will also be a policy to provide land ownership rights to those who are farmers who have been cultivating the land for farming but do not have ownership rights to the land,” he stated. The Budget has allocated Rs 136.41 crore to the Revenue Department for implementing these measures. The announcement incidentally follows a High Court directive in a suo motu Public Interest Litigation directing the concerned authorities to >Continued on P9 Tax holidays for big ticket investments THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With big ticket industrial investments in the State drying up in recent years, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has offered extensive tax holidays and other incentives for industry and organisations. One such proposal included by Sawant in the budget he presented on Wednesday is a 5-year tax holiday for industry and large companies who are "ready to invest Rs 5,000 crore in the State. In other incentives for investors, Sawant said he proposes to give incentives to hotels of at least three star category and hospitals being set up in hinterland talukas of the State -- Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Sanguem, Quepem, Dharbandora and Canacona. BUDGET IN A NUTSHELL Comprehensive Housing Policy to provide affordable housing to Goans Mega college campus near Panaji to house four colleges Margao Dindi Utsav, Shirgao Devi Lairarai Jatra declared State festivals Govt servants to undergo Karmayogi course Laptops for primary & middle schools Cluster University concept proposed 50% more charges on water bills for domestic consumers who fail to connect to sewerage line; 100% for commercial consumers WILDLIFE & ECO-TOURISM THRILLS PANAJI: In a bid to promote Goa beyond beaches, the State government has proposed wildlife and eco-tourism in the protected areas. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced to promote nature trails, eco-tourism activities and cottages in all the six wildlife sanctuaries-- Bondla, Mhadei, Netravali, Cotigao, Bhagwan Mahaveer and Salim Ali Bird sanctuary. Government also intends to plant fruit bearing trees in forest areas to avoid human-animal conflict. Goa bets big on luxury tourism, to draw high-spending tourists CM SAYS FOCUS TO BE ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has earmarked Rs 440.98 crore for the tourism sector in the 202526 Budget as it has already announced plans to attract high-spending tourists while ensuring that budget travellers and local visitors can continue to enjoy the State's unique charm. Sustainable tourism will be a key focus in this effort. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced 11 new initiatives including wayside amenities, online taxi services, a “plug & play” model, cruise tourism enhancement, a new jetty terminal and mini-convention center in Pana- BOOSTER DOSE „„Wayside amenities „„Online taxi services „„“Plug & play” model „„Cruise, aero tourism „„New jetty terminal „„Oceanarium, caravan parks ji, aero-tourism, an oceanarium, caravan parks, Porvorim town square, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj digital museum and a program for digital nomads. Sawant said the tourism industry would be transformed to attract high-value interna- Kunbi cloth to be used for uniform in govt schools Mandatory internship for higher education courses More cities, States to be connected with Goa airports Single point taxation on liquor Aero tourism to include skydiving & drone tourism MBBS to get 20 more seats in 2025-26 Sand mining along 12 zones after CRZ clearance tional travellers, positioning Goa as a premier global destination. "By promoting sustainability and responsible tourism, Goa will maximize its benefits. To achieve this, we will focus on self-reliance in the tourism sector through strategic investments and expansion,” he said. The Budget also proposes introducing a Tourism Ambassador Program to train and skill individuals in tourism-related services. With an emphasis on promoting “Goa Beyond Beaches,” the government has chalked out plans to enhance pilgrimage sites, temples and heritage locations to boost spiritual tourism. Legislators to get `100 crore to boost infra THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has proposed to earmark Rs 100 crore for infrastructure projects for each MLA's constituency from the 2025-26 financial year onwards. "From this financial year, each MLA will be given approvals for infrastructure projects proposed through various departments in their constituencies worth up to Rs 100 crore," Sawant said. Later during the press conference he addressed along with Chief Secretary V Candavelou, Sawant elaborated that MLAs will have to co-ordinate with departments involved in projects they propose. "Also, it will only be for infrastructure projects entailing capital expenditure," Sawant clarified. Economy set to ride on mining boom: Eco Survey Soon, better roads, green corridors THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he Economic Survey 202425 has projected growth in Goa’s economy for a robust 13.87 per cent in the financial year 2024-25, marginally surpassing the previous year’s growth rate of 13.73 per cent in 2023-24. The report, tabled by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday, attributed the resurgence primarily to the anticipated resumption of mining and quarrying activities after the successful auctioning of mining leases in the State. “The Domestic Product (GSDP) reported growth is expected to reach Rs 121309.02 T 98.88% assurances fulfilled: ATR PANAJI: The Goa government on Wednesday informed the House that the 98.88 per cent of the assurances made in the last State Budget 2024-25 are either completed or underway. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tabled the Action Taken Report (ATR) on Budget 2024-25, according to which out of 446 assurances, 441 assurances were initiated in the same financial year and the implementation is either completed or underway. “The matter pertaining to 5 (1.12%) assurances have either been dropped /kept on hold due to various administrative reasons,” the ATR stated.  >> See pg 3 crore. “The Goan economy is in a favourable position to witness a growth of 13.87 per cent during the year 2024-25 mainly due to anticipated resumption of mining & quarrying activities after successful auctioning mining leases in the State,” the report stated. Quick estimates for 2023-24 indicated strong performances across sectors. The primary and secondary sectors registered growth rates of 12.80 per cent and 12.14 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year, while the tertiary sector surged ahead with a 15.43 per cent growth. Public debt to hit `26K cr by March: Survey >> See pg 3 The secondary sector, which contributed around 52.88 per cent to the GSDP in 2019-20, experienced fluctuations -- rising to 53.17 per cent in 2020-21 and peaking at 54.03percent in 2021-22 be- fore declining to 51.97 per cent in 2022-23 and further to 51.32 per cent in 2023-24. Meanwhile, the primary sector’s contribution has continued its downward trend, slipping to 6.37 per cent in 2023-24 from 6.98 per cent in 2021-22, having previously stood at 7.83 percent in 2020-21. The survey further highlighted a steady increase in per capita income, climbing from Rs 4,85,645 in 2019-20 to Rs 5,96,260 in 2022-23 and further to Rs 6,74,684 in 2023-24, signalling improved economic prosperity for Goans. The report further raised the possibility of revision in the growth rate subsequently. along highways for a smooth ride DIGGING TO BE BANNED FOR 5 YRS AFTER ROAD IS TARRED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As Goa grapples with pothole-ridden roads, the Goa government has earmarked a whopping over Rs 1208 crore towards repair and replenishment of all such roads. The State government has announced plans to construct green corridors along major highways to improve aesthetics and ensure commuter safety. It has also decided to impose a ban for a period of five years on road digging once it is tarred. “A new policy on road engineering and design will be introduced to construct Green Corridors along major highways which will stop access to stray cattle, improve aesthetics and ensure commuter safety on roads,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in the State Budget 2025-26. Announcing the Common Utility Duct for laying of various pipelines, the government has noted that frequent digging of roads leads to poor quality and subsequent accidents. PWD BUDGET The Budget for the public works department has been reduced by almost Rs 100 crore. This year, the government has allocated Rs 1976 crore as against Rs 2976 crore earmarked in the last budget. WATER TANKERS The Budget speaks about bringing in a comprehensive control to regulate the water tanker sector through responsible mandatory registrations and color coding of all types >Continued on P9