CM to Centre: Keep aiding capital investment, give Goa bigger share

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday urged Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to ensure that the special assistance to states for capital investment continues in the coming financial year.

Sawant, who submitted Goa’s demands at the pre-Budget consultation in Rajasthan, asked Sitharaman to increase the funding allocation for Goa. “The scheme has become a major support for Goa in increasing its capital investment,” Sawant said.

Goa also wants the finance ministry to increase the state’s share in the untied quantum of funds to at least 1%. The 15th finance commission recommended that Goa be given 0.386%. Goa continuously spent more on capital expenditure, Sawant said.

He also asked the Centre to allow states to carry forward the funds that were released for the Unity Mall and police housing schemes in 2023-24. Sawant said states should not be penalised for taking another year to spend the funds since the finalisation of land took considerable time in Goa.

The chief minister also sought a one-time special assistance of Rs 500 crore for the revival of khazans in Goa. Sawant said that there is an urgent need to revive Goa’s khazan lands, which were created almost 3,500 years ago by Gauda tribes.

Goa govt made several attempts to restore khazans, with sluice gates and bunds being repaired and fixed. Sawant said that about 18,000 hectares of khazan lands are affected by saline water due to the lack of maintenance.

Sawant requested the Centre to provide a superfast express or Vande Bharat Express on Goa-Bengaluru, Goa-Pune, and Goa-Hyderabad routes. Goa also asked for Rs 5,000 crore to be given to Konkan Railway to improve inter-city connectivity and to repair two old tunnels of Old Goa and Pernem, which are in a vulnerable condition.

New alternate tunnels are required for which Rs 1,500 crore is needed, he said.

He also asked that the state-specific finance commission grants be released to Goa in 2025-26. The 15th finance commission recommended Rs 200 crore for tourism and Rs 500 crore for climate-change mitigation, waste-to-energy, and renewable energy projects.

Sawant said that since the state is vulnerable to disasters, the Centre should compensate Goa in the form of monetary support. For reducing Goa’s carbon footprint and protecting the Western Ghats, the state needs Rs 1,000 crore, Sawant said.

Sawant also informed Sitharaman that Goa intends to replace water pipelines, which are 60-70 years old, and the state needs special assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the project.

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