KISHOR NAIK GAONKAR
PANAJI
The Opposition may have been complaining about a breakdown in administration since Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar took ill and proceeded abroad for treatment in February, but has his absence stalled files, payments, schemes and proposals of various departments?
On the contrary, sources in the finance department have claimed that despite the chief minister’s absence for over three months, all files and arrears have been cleared, funds have been provided to all major departments for development works and there are no pending schemes or proposals before the chief minister.
“Although Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is undergoing treatment in the United States, he has been closely overseeing the administration of the state, especially financial planning, by phone and online interactions,” said an official in the finance department.
“Despite allegations by some parties, the finance department has succeeded in planning the state’s financial situation on instructions of Parrikar although he is not in the State. All pending issues have been sorted out by the finance department accordingly and there is no outstanding bill with any department, despite the mining crisis and the GST implications,” the official said.
According to the official, the finance department sends a report to Parrikar every day, enabling him to provide directives regarding financial management by email.
“Everyday evening, a report is sent to the chief minister via email. After reading this report, he gives directives to the finance and accounts department and accordingly, financial planning is done,” explained the official.
Such has been the interaction, that all pending cases have been settled and the government had only availed a loan of Rs 300 crore since April and repayment of loans has been regular, the official said.
“The State government is due to get Rs 160 crore from GST,” added the official.
“Increase in electricity demand and increase in coal and diesel prices have increased the cost of power purchase. Earlier, the monthly expenditure on purchase of electricity was Rs 90 crore and it has now reached Rs 115 crore.”
The official added that the money to the Griha Aadhaar beneficiaries, which were pending for three months, were deposited into their accounts after funds of Rs 67.02 crore were approved by the chief minister.
“In addition, Rs 15 crore for Laadli Laxmi scheme and Rs 28 crore for Dayanand Social Security Scheme have also been approved.”
The official said both the DSSS and the Griha Aadhaar schemes are on track, besides funding the capital scheme and releasing funds to the tune of Rs 10 crore for the IT Park and ESDM at Tuem. A higher education promotion fund has also been set aside. Besides meeting its debt requirements, it was disclosed that funding has also been made available to all major department.
“There are no pending dues in the Public Works Department or the Water Resources Department.”
“During these three months since the absence of the chief minister, though the government has taken a loan of Rs 300 crore since April, it has actually spent about Rs 407 crore. The revenue collection of various departments is going well and hence, there should be no restrictions on additional funding,” the official added.
