1. <In a couple of months, the state government would have to be ready with the proposals to be placed before the Planning Commission as well as the Finance Commission. If the government has plans to come up with welfare schemes or to undertake developmental works in rural areas, the Rane government?s main objective would be to effectively manage its finances. No doubt some lessons could be learnt from Parrikar who could bring about progress in the infrastructure sector and beautification programmes mainly because he knew how to manage the state finances. Revenue generation he managed was never seen in the past. Whether the same trend would continue or not is to be seen.The BJP government however, went in for huge loans and the debt burden is quite heavy as of now. Rane government would have to work out ways and means to reduce the debt.>[goanet, June 13]
Does any body have any numbers about Goa's revenue generation (tax and non-tax), expenditure pattern, debt burden etc so that we can get a better handle on the financial challenge before the new government? Otherwise all the talk about development is going to be just blah-blah. 2.<Decisions on Mopa airport, Tillari irrigation project and Madei issue will also be keenly awaited.> [goanet. June 13] Regarding Mopa airport, CM had said in a press conference " Such a project coming to Goa *can be welcomed*". He had estimated the project to be of Rs 1000 crores. He had also referred to four-laning of the North-South Highway which he reportedly said "would shorten distances" (though he probably meant 'reduce time'). The problem with the Mopa decision is that it seems to me to be in the "passive mode". There does not seem to be any ACTIVE interest on the part of the Rane govt in making Mopa a reality. In this connection, the govt still has to take a view on the pie in the sky proposal of the ICAO to make Mopa an A380 airport by 2014. A hard headed look at the project by the Goa govt may find that a Rs 300 cr project in 3 years is probably all that is really needed at present.
