NT Reporter Panaji
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said his government has set a target to reduce the fiscal deficit to below 27% in the coming years.
“As of March 2025, it stood at 27.9%, against 29% in the last financial year,” he said while replying to a discussion on demand of finance and other departments in the state legislative assembly.
Claiming that the state’s finances are in good shape with a budget surplus this year, Sawant said, “The government had permission to borrow up to
Rs 4,500 crore, but has borrowed only Rs 1,050 crore this financial year,” refuting the charge from the opposition that the government is taking huge loans to run the government.
He said the excise department has earned revenue of Rs 947.87 crore last year. “In the year 2020, the excise revenue was Rs 491.83 crore. The government will soon introduce holograms on liquor bottles to fight the growing problem of illegal alcohol trade,” Sawant said. Responding to allegations of illegal trade through the Goa borders, he said that checking of liquor-laden trucks will be strengthened at the check-posts.
He listed the achievements of the government in checking land scams saying that a total of 22 cases have been registered in connection with the mega land scam, leading to the arrest of 75 individuals, including six government officials.
“Eight FIRs have been transferred to police stations, 12 have been chargesheeted, three FIRs quashed, and two final reports filed in the land scams,” he said.
On recovery of pending dues from casinos, the Chief Minister said notices have been issued to the casinos. “My government is committed to recover 100% pending dues from the casinos though some of the cases are pending in court,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that treated water from sewage treatment plants across the state will be made available to consumers free of charge for non-potable use. Sawant said all sewage collection tankers must now be registered with the Sewerage Corporation and must be colour-coded for identification, adding that the notification has been issued. Strict action will be taken against unregistered tankers, he said.
“Sewerage Corporation is now independent from the PWD. So far, 19% of Goa’s sewerage network has been completed, with Rs 1,700 crore invested for sewerage infrastructure network,” Sawant said.
He admitted that at present it is not possible to provide 24×7 water supply in the state and said his government is upgrading facilities and creating new infra to provide at least 4 hours of water supply to the citizens.
He also assured the House that stricter action will be taken against hawkers and touts on beaches in the next tourist season. “We want these illegal activities to be stopped”. He also said that 12 new cases against history-sheeters have been reopened.
Sawant said a total number of 17 foreigners were detained under Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and 37 arrested for overstaying in Goa, while five foreign nationals were arrested in connection with Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases.
