PANAJI
Citing land constraints in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Center should preferentially allot projects which have scope for vertical mobility.
Sawant made the appeal at a virtual meeting of the NITI Ayog governing council which was chaired by Modi on Saturday.
Sawant said he voiced at the meeting that of the 3,702 square km area of the state 67 per cent has forest coverage and with restrictions on development in CRZ, wetland, eco-sensitive zones, and private forest, only about 30 percent of the land is actually available for development purpose.
The CM claimed he has also sought amendments in CZMP, wetland, eco-sensitive zone-related guidelines from MoEF &CC and permit some relaxation for small states like Goa.
Sawant also pitched his “Swayampurna Goa” programme as an initiative to achieve the Prime Minister’s “Atmanirbahr Bharat” objectives at the virtual meeting of the NITI Ayog’s governing council.
“Goa has aligned with the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat with the Swayampurna Goa programme,” Sawant said at the NITI Aayog meeting.
Sawant also informed the council that the programme involves accelerating sectors like agriculture, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure and optimum governance.
The Swayampurna Goa initiative involves the government machinery engaging with local communities across Goa’s villages and identifying areas where community assets can be developed across sectors like agriculture, local manufacturing and other traditional skill sets.
