Goa Govt swears by Panchayati Raj institutions

PANAJI, MARCH 21: The Government of Goa on Tuesday announced its commitment to Panchayati Raj institutions in the State. In his address to...

PANAJI, MARCH 21: The Government of Goa on Tuesday announced its commitment to Panchayati Raj institutions in the State. In his address to the State Legislative Assembly, Governor Mohammed Fazal reiterated the State’s resolve to strengthen grass-root democratic institutions in Goa. "This would accelerate development through involvement of people in decision-making, planning, execution and monitoring of development activities," the Governor said.

The speech noted that the Goa Panchayati Raj Act has been amended to delegate powers to the State Election Commission to decide on disqualification of members of panchayats and zilla panchayats. These bodies would be allocated additional resources as per the study done by the United Nations Development Project, which is preparing the Human Resource Development Report for Goa.

The address to open the Budget session of the Goa Assembly marked the inauguration of the State’s new Vidhan Sabha building at Porvorium on the outskirts Panaji. Despite a fiscal deficit brought about by the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission, the State Government is putting up a brave front. The State’s economy is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 per cent during this year, the House was told. The private sector would be encouraged to play an important role in the State’s plan, according to the Government. The approved outlay of the Annual Plan 1999-2000 is Rs 281.19 crore and the anticipated expenditure would be Rs 249 crore.

The Government also indicated that it would tap funds from private hands for an ongoing project. The Governor told the House that the State Government would float bonds to the tune of Rs 270 crore for the Tillari Irrigation Project. However in other existing irrigation projects like the Selaulim project, the command area under irrigation is being reduced by more than 2500 hectares. The water rendered surplus would be used for industry, the House was told.