PANAJI
The Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly will likely be held over three days beginning March 22 with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar already making preparations for the presentation of the budget on March 24.
While Parrikar insisted that he couldn’t begin budget preparations unless he first wins the trust vote, sources in the secretariat have confided that the ground work on drafting the budget has begun.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that the State Budget 2017-18 would indicate the mind of the BJP-led coalition government. “The speaker would be elected on March 22, Governor’s speech on March 23 and the budget will be presented on March 24. We have to prepare the budget. Unless there is a confidence vote, I can’t begin with the budget preparation,” Parrikar said.
“There are many things for which I have to consult others to know their priorities and take information but basically it is to ensure that the financial stability of the state is regained. There are many things like the GST what impact it has on state finances. This budget will be more of a document based with more figures and less of speech. We will attempt to indicate government’s mind,” Parrikar said.
As per the government figures, for the financial year 2016-17 government receipts are to the tune of `11,260 crore while expenditure lies at `11,301 crore. Of the `11,260 crore receipts `6290 are revenue receipts while the rest is through borrowings. Expenditure is `8,356 crore while the remaining includes `2067.63 crore spent on capital expenditure. So far the borrowings of the state stand at `1170 crore for the current financial year.
