NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Coalition partners of the BJP-led government on Friday were all praises of the state budget 2017-18 terming the document as progressive, innovative and people-friendly.
“It’s a very good budget presented by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. He prepared the budget within four days by working day and night. I am happy that he has given revenue surplus budget to Goa with an intention to complete all the projects by 2020,” PWD Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said.
Commenting on Parrikar’s promise that the government would stop charging road entry tax at checkpoints in Goa once the goods and services tax is implemented, Dhavalikar said, “It is good… any way there are instructions from the National Highway Authority of India to stop such entry tax or any other tax other than the one imposed by the central government.”
On the 15 per cent increase in value-added tax on fuel, Dhavalikar said that Goans have been given considerable rebate per litre on fuel for the last five years, but because of the burden of the Seventh Pay Commission pay-scales the government had to resort to increase the VAT.
Expressing his satisfaction over the budget, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said, “This is a progressive and innovative budget which will take Goa forward… it is touching all the sections of the society: from the weak autistic child to the elderly and to the weaker sections of the society for whom the government will subsidise housing.”
When asked whether all the issues have been taken care of on which the Goa Forward Party had sought votes, Sardesai said, “We have taken a vote on account for six months and the supplementary demands will come later. The things that have been omitted or minutely overlooked could come when we take vote on account in future.” Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte praised Parrikar for giving a revenue surplus budget despite running many popular schemes.
“Parrikar has given a very clear indication that there will be zero tolerance to corruption and promised to create the vigilance department as a separate cell to look into disproportionate assets cases,” Khaunte said.
He said the hike in VAT on fuel would not affect the common man opining that it was a nominal increase as the overall rate of fuel would be under Rs 65 as promised in the budget.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who was pleased with the budget, said that this budget has been placed perfectly for the downtrodden.
“Making agriculture commercially viable and aiming to achieve growth in farming sector is a good initiative,” Gaude said.
NCP MLA Churchill Alemao also expressed his satisfaction on the budget presented.