It remains to be seen how Parrikar will maintain a balance between managing state's financial situation and also giving a fillip to the economy. The situation may be tough, but the industrial sector wants the state government to give huge push to infrastructure in the budget and also make dedicated efforts towards two main projects - Electronics City at Tuem and Information-Technology (IT) Park at Chimbel.
Sandip Bhandare, president, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said, "We expect that state government focuses on fibre connectivity. The fibre connectivity is good in cities in the state, but as we move beyond cities, the connectivity is poor. Huge investment is required in fibre cable in the state. Facilities like free wi-fi should be made available in all villages. Ducts should be made compulsory when constructing a road. If you make ducts, you will not have do any digging while laying optic fibre cables."
Bhandare echoed what the IT start-ups in the state have been demanding from the state government. These companies have been urging the government to provide seamless internet connectivity in the state so that people can set up IT companies anywhere in Goa.
Praveen Blaggon, president, Honda Industrial Estate, said, "We expect that the state government to make provision in the budget to provide dedicated power supply to both Honda Industrial Estate and Pissurlem Industrial Estate. As of now, the road connecting Honda Industrial Estate to national highway is just 6-meter wide. This should be widened to at least a four lane road."
The industry also wants the government to acquire the unutilised plots in the industrial estates so that they can be allotted to new entrepreneurs. Blaggon said, "We want the government to take back those industrial plots, which were given to units, which are now shut down."
Bhandare also said that he would like the government to dedicate lot of efforts towards Chimbel IT Park and Tuem Electronics City and also towards new industrial estates.
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TALKING HEADS
* PRAVEEN BLAGGON, president of Honda Industrial Estate: We expect that the state government makes provision in the budget to provide dedicated power supply to both Honda Industrial Estate and Pissurlem Industrial Estate
* SANDIP BHANDARE, president of GCCI: We expect that state government focus on fibre connectivity. Ducts should be made compulsory when constructing a road. If you make ducts, you will not have to do any digging while laying optic fibre cables
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POST-GST TEST
* Chief Minister Parrikar will be presenting the state budget in February. This is the first budget since the advent of GST regime in July 2017
* State's tax collections are not positive causing fiscal tightening. It remains to be seen how fillip will be given to growth in such a situation
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