PANAJI
As the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) Report was tabled on day one of the Budget session of the Goa Assembly, the spotlight was once again on the status of reports from key committees -- the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Undertaking Committee (PUC).
Replying to queries from reporters outside the Assembly Complex, PUC Chairman and the Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao stated that the committee still has a one-year timeframe to prepare and table its report in the House.
The PAC and PUC committees were constituted in January 2023, with a stipulated two-year period. The Committees have allegedly met only a few times till date with no meetings held between January and September 2023. Both the Committees are headed by Opposition MLAs and their major role is to examine CAG Reports and question the government on its findings.
Alemao pointed fingers at other committees, claiming these are defunct. “The (PAC-PUC) Committee is constitutionally mandated for two years. We have the balance of one year to compile and submit our comprehensive report. Look at other committees, these are defunct,” he slammed, while quickly adding that the Mhadei Committee convened only one meeting.
“The PUC committee met at least six times with 4-5 meetings also held with the CAG. There’s no direct correlation between the activities of the BAC and the PUC”, he said.
