PANAJI
Claiming prudent fiscal moves, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday sang paeans of Goa’s fiscal management in Chhattisgarh, a poll-bound State where he was on a two-day tour for party work over the weekend.
“Goa has started economic action to reduce debt. The State will become debt free in the coming years. Now borrowings will be at low interest rates from institutions like SIDBI and NABARD for infrastructure work,” Sawant said, while addressing a press conference in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
BJP leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh and others flanked Sawant at the press conference.
Sawant said, Goa had gone through hard times economically with the mining industry halted and tourism too badly hit due to the multiple Covid-19 waves.
“This affected the State’s revenues but the process to re-start mining has begun and tourism too has resumed to booming levels leading to an increase in revenues,” Sawant said, adding that simultaneously fiscal management is tuned in to reduce debt levels.
“From now on, the government will borrow only from institutions like SIDBI and NABARD which lend at low interest rates,” he said.
Sawant’s claims on State debt and prudent fiscal management come in the face of questions being raised on the burgeoning debt and the administration perennially facing a fund crunch, often the favourite stick of the Opposition to beat the government with.
According to budget papers presented by Sawant in March this year and the CAG audit reports, Goa’s net debt stands at approximately Rs 24,000 crore, with nearly a third of annual expenditure going into repayment of loans and interest.
Meanwhile touching on other issues, Sawant raised the matter of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which he said was already being implemented in Goa.
“Goa is the first State in the country to implement uniform civil law. It would be a good thing if the same was enforced throughout the country. I welcome the Uniform Civil Code,” Sawant said.
He also targeted the ruling Congress government of Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel which he alleged had failed to deliver on the promises made despite the central government provided financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh crore throughout its tenure.
“The Chhattisgarh Congress government has not been able to make proper use of these funds. The Congress government is corrupt which has led to misuse of funds,” he alleged.
