PANAJI
He was responding to Valpoi MLA Vishwajeet Rane who sought to know how the central share of untied funds worth `1,054 crore have been utilised by the State, and whether any of this amount has been used for plugging the fiscal deficit and debt.“The amount of `1,054 crore received from the Centre is the State s share of the central funds. Usually, the untied statutory funds or grants are to be used by the State government at its discretion. These are not given for any specific projects. The funds are allotted wherever the government feels that it is needed,” said Parsekar, adding that the funds have been allocated under two heads “ social infrastructure and physical infrastructure.Under social infrastructure, `330 crore have been allocated for Dayanand Samajik Suraksha Yojana, `180 crore for Griha Adhaar Yojana, `120 crore toward scholarships and `180 crore for subsidies in agriculture, animal husbandry and tribal welfare.Under physical infrastructure, `525 crore have been allocated for PWD, `150 crore for electricity, `102 crore for water resources department, `85 crore for sewerage, `65 crore for GTDC, `220 crore for GSIDC, `38 crore for land acquisition of NIT in Cuncolim and `84 crore for removal of River Princess ship.“Under both heads, the total amount spent is `2,079 crore and `1,054 crore is part of it,” he said.“All governments take loans. Since governance is a continuous process, the loans which the erstwhile government had taken have to be repaid by the present dispensation. Even if we have taken loans, these are within permissible limits,” said Parsekar.
