News Feed : Navhind Times - dated 12th January 2016
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, in the customary gubernatorial address to the state legislative assembly on Monday said the road-based passenger mobility has increased tremendously over the years, in Goa, with a total vehicle population of 11.23 lakh as in October 2015.
“My government is keen in providing a secure, efficient and integrated transport system in the state,” the Governor added, stating that to provide easy and efficient services to the public, registration of new vehicles through authorised dealers have been put in place, with 12,608 vehicles registered on line by the authorised dealers from April to October 2015.
She further informed that ‘The Goa State Interim Compensation to Road Accident Victims, 2015’ scheme has also been modified and notified for providing financial assistance to the road accident victims, irrespective of their existing insurance cover, while 79,000 sq mts land has been acquired at Ponda for setting up of an Institute of Drivers Training and Research as well as Testing and Checking Centre, with automated vehicle testing facility.
Sinha, however, read only a part of her speech – only 13 out of the total 46 pages – further stating, “Kindly consider from Para 25 to 91 as read.” “I hope the honourable members will take active part and have valuable and fruitful deliberations during this assembly session, thus fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Goa,” she concluded.
It may be recalled that the Governor had to stop reading her speech in the House, last year, while hardly two pages were remaining, as she felt unwell.
The gubernatorial speech observed that a roadmap document ‘24×7 Power for All’ has been prepared jointly by the government of Goa and the government of India, with Goa being the fourth state in the country selected for the particular programme.
“This programme will be implemented with the objective of ensuring 24×7 quality, reliable and affordable power supply to all domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial consumers within a fixed timeframe,” the speech noted.
The Governor in her speech also maintained that the flourishing tourism sector in Goa had opened many avenues of employment and self-employment to the people of the state. “As a result, the share of agriculture to gross state domestic product had declined to 2.8 per cent in 2011-12 from as high as 13.82 per cent in 1980-81,” Sinha observed, mentioning that this led to neglect of agricultural activities in the state. She cited a number of agricultural development schemes and programmes initiated by the government in an effort to encourage farmers and unemployed youth so as to take up agriculture.
The Governor also said the tourist arrival in Goa is more than three folds of the Goan population, and in order to provide better tourism-related infrastructure and attract more and more quality tourists – domestic as well as foreign – as also avoid congestion at Dabolim airport, a greenfield airport at Mopa would have its construction started by September 2016.
“The actual construction of first phase of the project will take 36 months and project is likely to be commissioned in 2019,” she revealed.
The speech also made a mention about the selection of the Panaji city among 98 cities in the country, under the smart city project of the central government. It also maintained that the modalities of this project are being actively finalised in consultation with all the stakeholders including the general public at large.
She said the government has been successful in reducing the growth in crime rate from 19.51 per cent in 2013 to 3.57 per cent in 2014. “Altogether 2,514 crimes were detected in 2015 as against 3,110 in 2014” she stated, adding that the crime detection rate has also increased to 84 per cent in 2015 as compared to 70 per cent in 2014.
“My government is committed to zero tolerance to women related crimes and is more concerned for their safety and security,” Sinha assured the House, informing that a ‘women helpline’ with a toll free number 1091 has been made functional at the women and children protection unit. It was further informed that Goa police have launched dedicated helpline toll free number 1090 for senior citizens.
Furthermore, the Governor in her speech said the government is committed to the ideology of ‘zero tolerance towards corruption’ and has put the information technology to extensive use to bring transparency in government functioning by use of e-tendering, electronic clearance, and strengthening of departmental as well as the state vigilance and anti-corruption machinery.
Stating that the commercial taxes contribute almost around 65 to 70 per cent of the total revenue of the state, the Governor said that commercial taxes revenue of the government has increased by 8.8 per cent in 2014-15 as compared to that in 2013-14.
“The excise revenue of the government has also increased by 13.69 per cent in 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14,” she revealed.
Touching upon the mining scenario in Goa, the Governor said the mining of iron ore resumed in the state in September 2015 with 89 mining leases approved for grant of second
renewal and one lease approved for first renewal.“Differential global positioning system survey of 85 mining leases is completed till date with its authentication plans,” Sinha informed, mentioning that 14 e-auctions were held in which 86,11,783 metric tonnes of iron ore was put up for bidding that realised a sale value of Rs 831.15 crore.“Out of the sale value realised, the state received royalty and processing fees of Rs 110.62 crore,” she added, pointing out that in addition, the state has earned royalty amounting to Rs 4.91 crore on account of production of iron ore and bauxite.It was further informed that a total number of 330 bandharas have been completed to hold water, while construction of another six bandharas are in progress. It was also mentioned that 27 bandharas are planned for construction during the year 2015-16.On the industrial front, the Governor said that infrastructure development and maintenance works amounting to Rs 26.24 crore have been taken up during 2015-16 in various industrial estates.“The waste treatment storage facility at Pissurlem industrial estate and biomedical waste treatment in Kundalim industrial estate have also been created,” she stated, adding that road network at Kundaim industrial estate has already been completed.Sinha also mentioned that the thrust areas for new investments in the state, under the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board include knowledge-based industry, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, integrated educational hubs, light engineering, aviation, aerospace and defence, information technology hardware and electronics, and agro-based and food processing industries.“Till date 46 proposals have been cleared with potential investment of Rs 3,700 crore and nearly 9,000 jobs,” she revealed.“My government has taken decision to carry out rectification in the Regional Plan 2021 by way of calling for suggestions/rectifications from the general public,” the Governor said, observing that the policy guidelines on allowing additional FAR for allied uses under agriculture have been notified. She also informed that the government has simplified the land conversion process by introducing a system to issue suo moto conversion reports along with technical clearances/ development permissions.
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