PANAJI
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has lamented that the Agriculture Department is following the footsteps of the government by indulging in ‘wasteful expenditures’ through events. During a discussion on the grants for the Agriculture Department, Alemao claimed that the “Virus of Events has infested Agriculture Department.”
“The reply given to my unstarred LAQ 123 dated July 24, 2023 states that the government spent Rs 13.12 Crores on organizing events from January 2022 till May 2023. 'Save Soil' MOU signing event cost (the State) Rs 3.25 Crores,” he further said.
Whereas Fatorda legislator Vijai Sardesai questioned the hurry in finalizing the draft agriculture bill.
“Draft Agriculture Policy is finally finalized, but how will farmers give suggestions on this? There is a heist to finalize the policy. Budget of 2023-24 and the draft policy has a mismatch as there is no budget allocation for various aspects mentioned in Draft Policy,” Sardesai said.
Meanwhile, Alemao further said that the government must absorb 95 employees of Sanjivani Sugar Factory till the new Ethanol Plant is set up. He demanded that the government should not retire the staff on VRS who are in the age group of 35-50 years. “The staff should not be given VRS because this is their prime age of working and supporting their families,” he added.
Recalling the maggot-infested rice being distributed to the ration card holders, Sardesai added that ‘Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and the Director should taste the rice grains given in Fair price shops.’ He demanded pest control in Civil Supply Godowns as well as renovation of all Godowns for which budget allocation shall be increased.
