PANAJI
In the last four years, Goa has got almost Rs 1,114 crore from Centre, in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan, for various capital investment proposals. State is likely to get another Rs 84 cr before the end of on-going financial year.
The amount released under "Special Assistance to Capital Investment/Expenditure", since 2020-21, has been towards projects from diverse sectors including health, roads, bridges, power and water supply.
According to the data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Union Finance Ministry, from 2020-21 till December 6, 2023, Centre has released a total of Rs 1,113.80 crore to Goa, to assist the State in boosting capital expenditure.
For the current financial year- 2023-24, Centre has sanctioned Rs 386 crore to the coastal State of which, till date an amount of Rs 331.35 crore has been released.
In the very first year, 2020-21, when the scheme was launched, Goa got Rs 97.66 crore. The allocation saw a jump in 2021-22, when State was released Rs 111.04 crore.
In the last fiscal, Goa got almost Rs 572.75 crore.
As per the Ministry, the Centre may extend the benefit under the interest-free loan for 50 years to states to boost capital expenditure and expedite policy reforms in the coming Budget 2024-25 with growing demand for the fund. So far, a total amount of Rs 60,103 crore has been released to 28 States.
The Ministry informed the House that the Union Government came out with a ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure’ in October, 2020 considering the tough fiscal environment faced by the State Governments due to Covid-19 pandemic. It aimed to assist the States in boosting capital expenditure and enhances the productive capacity of the economy.
The Scheme was continued in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 with enhanced allocation in view of the extremely positive response of the State Governments to the Schemes and their request for continuing the Scheme.
