PlanComm approves Goa's Rs 4,715 crore Plan outlay for 2013-14

Planning Commission today approved Goa's Plan expenditure of Rs 4,715 crore for this fiscal, almost flat compared to Rs 4,700 outlay approved for 2012-13.

However, the state's approved outlay for the current financial year is over 40% higher than the actual Plan expenditure incurred during the last fiscal.

Goa's state Plan outlay was approved here at a meeting between the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

"We have agreed to a Plan size of Rs 4,715 crore which is a very significant increase over the actual expenditure last year," Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.

"Chief Minister has said that whatever is promised from the Central Government should not be released too late. I have promised that we will do whatever we can to make sure that does not happen," he added.

According to Ahluwalia, the Commission complimented the Chief Minister on the performance of the state particularly in social sector.

Expressing satisfaction over the discussion with the Commission, Parrikar said, "The discussion in Planning Commission was satisfactory. We were able to achieve a (Plan) size of about Rs 3,300 crore in last (financial) year (2012-13). Now it is about Rs 4,700 crore. It is about 45-50% growth of actuals of last year."

"This is despite the 25% hit in the revenue generation due to mining (ban) which we replaced with some other funding pattern," he added.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister said, "We have raised certain initiatives like expansion of Dabolim Airport for better facilities there and green initiative in government buildings."

About state's demand of Rs 3,000 crore package, he said,"The mining ban is affecting the common people very badly. Finance Minister (P Chidambaram) assured me that he will work out something with RBI and banks for NPAs (loans)."

"We expect assistance from central government on this issue. We will be able to come out of it by next season that is September or October," he added.

The Chief Minister also met Chidambaram this morning to discuss about the package to deal with the impact of mining ban in the state.

Asked about the royalty issue, he said, "the royalty issue would come after the ban (on mining) is lifted. If I will jump on too many things then I think nothing would happen."

Parrikar also said the state was suffering because of ban on mining and asked for a onetime grant of Rs 300 crore to compensate those affected by closure of mining.