'New Legislation to check communal tension soon'

Panaji, July 13: Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane has hinted at the possibility of enacting a comprehensive legislation soon to prevent recurrence of communal tensions and construction of illegal structures in Goa.

Winding up a three day general debate on budget in the State Legislative Assembly last evening, the Chief Minister said that such legislation would curb illegal structures and thus prevent recurrence of violence like in Sanvordem-Curchorem in South Goa recently.

Mr Rane further claimed that his government had brought the financial position of the state on the right track by observing efficient and prudent financial norms. This had resulted in planned utilization of funds to the tune of 94 per cent, the highest in the country.

The government initiatives to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) evoked good response for investment from the industry, he said.

The government, he said, was keen to set up two 250 MW-thermal power stations in the North and South Goa, particularly in the mining areas, as proposed by the Union Power ministry, using imported low ash coal that could be transshipped by barges on their return journey after dumping iron ore at the harbour.

UNI