PANAJI: A day after the Union Budget was presented, CM Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the state government may get over Rs 7,000 crore under various Centre-sponsored schemes. “By March 31, we will get over Rs 5,000 crore,” Sawant said. He said that the state will get more benefits this year compared to the previous years.
Sawant said Goa will set aside Rs 2,000 crore from the fund for a circle road connecting all border points of the state. He said that urban development funds have been announced in the Union Budget and the state will seek funds for all 13 municipalities. He said that the state is aiming to get additional Rs 500 crore for developing rural infra.
The CM said the state will take the Centre’s help to open an artificial intelligence (AI) centre of excellence and a Skill India centre. He said the Centre’s assistance will also be sought to launch a national hydrogen mission, set up two cities to be developed as tourism centres and establish organic farming centres in both districts.
Sawant said that the state will try to implement the Unity Mall concept in Goa. As for the circle road, he said it will be a part of the national highways initiative. “We want to develop a circle road which will connect all the boundaries from Dodamarg, Patradevi, and Mollem to Pollem.” All state roads will be linked to the circle road, he said.
Sawant said that the state government received Rs 3,865 crore in 2020-21 from the central government under various schemes. He said that in 2021-22 the state received Rs 4,304 crore.
Sawant said the Union Budget presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday will boost the state government’s initiative of Swayampurna Goa.
With the fresh outlays, the state government will also establish the Eklavya residential school, Sawant said. He said that the Budget is a vision document for the next 25 years for the country. He said that the Budget has covered the interests of villages, the poor, farmers, persons with disabilities, and the middle class among others.
“The focus of the budget is on infrastructure development, human development and the creation of digital infrastructure,” Sawant said.
Goa transport minister Mauvin Godinho said that interest-free loans have been proposed in the Budget for states to develop infrastructure.
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