NOD FOR PROPOSALS
AT CM's RESIDENCE
>> Of Electricity Department to outsource establishment of an IT cell and Revenue Assurance Support team to M/s RECPDCL
>> To exempt registration fees for gift deed of the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE)
>> Ordinance to tweak the Goods and Services Tax law
>> Appointment of 132 para-teachers for ten months with their remuneration enhanced
>> Revise selling prices of foodgrains for the above poverty line beneficiaries of PDS
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PANAJI: The Goa cabinet which met on Wednesday evening at the private residence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in Dona Paula cleared nine of the ten agenda items while deferring a decision on the proposal to create an 'investment promotion area' in Calangute.
At the meeting, where ministers said Parrikar "participated in discussions" the agenda item which proposed demarcating some 28,000-odd square metres of land in Calangute as an 'investment promotion area' was referred back to the Investment Promotion Board for more clarity on the zoning of the land in question.
Sources said, the proposal was flagged by some ministers as portions of the land are zoned as private forests and green belts in the Regional Plan.
Wednesday's cabinet meeting, meanwhile, generated interest as it was held less than 24-hours after Tuesday's meeting of the Investment Promotion Board photos of which were released by the CMO showing a frail-looking Parrikar who is suffering from pancreatic cancer seated among members.
It was the Chief Minister's first official engagement since he returned to Goa on a stretcher from AIIMS Delhi on October 14. There has been intense speculation over his health condition since then as he has been confined to his private residence where an intensive care unit is set up and a team of experts and doctors drawn from the Goa Medical College are treating and monitoring his health condition.
Meanwhile, the cabinet in Wednesday's meeting cleared the proposal of the Electricity Department to outsource the establishment of an IT cell and Revenue Assurance Support team to M/s RECPDCL. The proposal will cost the exchequer Rs 13-odd crores over three years and it will handle all billing processes and also complaints redressal in the power supply department.
Another decision taken by the cabinet was to exempt the registration fees for a gift deed of the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE). It also cleared an ordinance to tweak the Goods and Services Tax law.
The cabinet also cleared the appointment of 132 para-teachers for ten months with their remuneration enhanced from Rs 12,000 to Rs 32,000 per month. A proposal to revise selling prices of foodgrains for the above poverty line beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System to enhance profit margins of Fair Price shop owners was also approved.
The scheme for subsidy to mining affected barge and truck owners to help in their loan repayments was also extended by the cabinet.
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Parrikar fully fit, to meet
ministers today: Mauvin
PANAJI: "Everything is normal. It is only that the Chief Minister needs a little more rest. So he will be resting for sometime," Godinho said, adding that Parrikar has told them he will be calling them (ministers) individually for discussions whenever there are issues. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is "fully fit" and participated in the discussions at the cabinet meeting, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho told the media waiting outside the building where the former's private residence is.
"He gave his valuable suggestions," Godinho said, adding that it was a normal cabinet meeting, except that it did not take place at the Secretariat.
"Tomorrow he is meeting the party people. So like this work will go on. Normal functioning will not be impacted or affected at all," Godinho said.
On portfolios, Godinho said there was nothing discussed on the issue at Wednesday's meeting, adding that the subject was the CM's prerogative.
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Bureaucracy will be kept
on a 'tight leash': Vijai
PANAJI: TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the cabinet, which has met after a long time, was better than earlier. Sardesai termed the decision to hold the cabinet meeting at a private residence as an "extraordinary response" to an extraordinary situation.
"No one has called for this impasse, it has happened on its own. We are going to face it. This is an extraordinary arrangement," Sardesai said. Sardesai who had on Tuesday hit out at the bureaucracy for tardiness, said files will start moving fast now.
The Goa Forward leader said the bureaucracy will be kept on a 'tight leash' to ensure good governance as promised at the time of formation of the coalition government.
"Sab chalta hai. It happens now and then. Everything has to move forward. Nobody wants a bureaucracy which is not going to work in the interest of voters who have voted for us. Because bureaucracy doesn't stand for elections," Sardesai said.
