Goa budget: Stakeholders lists demands
Panaji, Mar 12 : With six days remaining for the year-old ruling coalition in Goa to present 2013-14 budget, there are high expectations from various stakeholders in the state.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will present the budget on Mar 18, which marks the beginning of the 45-day Legislative Assembly Session.
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), a non-profit business, support-services and networking organization, refrained from seeking any concession or benefit for the industrial sector understanding the current economic breakdown due to mining ban.
Instead, it has submitted a list of suggestions to overcome the situation in their representation to the government.
"The government has been extremely supportive. Step like simplifying procedures to set up industries here, fresh set of rules and regulations with the motive of bringing transparency in the allotments of industrial plots are just few of several measures taken for the upliftment of this sector," GCCI President Manguirish Pai Raikar said.
The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association, which safeguards, promotes and handles the problems of various mine owners in the state, has submitted its list of requirements and requests not to burden the mining sector anymore for, the mining closure has already affected over 10 lakh people.
The second most revenue generating industry - tourism, on which the government is heavily relying upon after the mining closure, through Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has sought funds for upgrading power supply infrastructure in the tourist dominated coastal area.
It has also asked the government to promote Goa as wedding destination which would attract couples to tie nuptial knot here.
In its memorandum to the government, TTAG has also added pegging luxury tax on room tariffs, reducing value added tax on food and beverages, and non-alcoholic drinks to 8 percent from the current 12.5 percent and 20 percent respectively.
Rendering its support to land casinos, the association has demanded to cut down the annual fee from a whopping Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 50 lakh.
The government in the last budget had upped the fee from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2.5 crore.
The government has meanwhile tentatively designed the budget covering all sectors including welfare schemes.
It is reliably learnt that excise duties will be hiked, which may not be a welcome step.
The tribal community of Goa is expected to get benefit as new schemes providing financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh for building new house and Rs 1 lakh for old house repairs.
Also, around 2,600 tribal youths will be recruited during the next one year in various government jobs.