Govt embarks on administrative reforms

Panaji, July 19 (UNI) The Goa government has embarked on launching a set of administrative reforms in key departments of police and revenue as part of bringing good governance to benefit the ''Aam Admi'', Chief minister Digambar Kamat told the Legislative Assembly today.

Replying to a debate on budget demands on General Administration late this evening, the chief minister told the House that government was trying to digitise all documents so that it would soon be in a position to give certificates to people at all taluk levels. The officers concerned should act on their own and assert their position in case of any violations without bringing it to notice of ministers.

Kamat defended according ''cabinet status'' to certain senior politicians like the former deputy chief minister Dr Wilfred D'Souza (Defeated from Saligao in June 2 elections) and to the three parliamentary secretaries he had appointed.

He reiterated the controversial regional plan -2011 stands scrapped and he had called for the status report on the cases of land conversion under the plan so that no construction would go on.

If any such cases come to his notice, the government would take stern action against the erring officials.

The chief minister assured the House that government would hold a workshop so that it could frame a comprehensive town planning act soon in consultation with the experts including planners, NGO's and architects. The new regional plan had to be evolved on the basis of an earlier non-controversial plan that could be arrived at a concensus after discussions. The government follows all procedures and rules in framing the new regional plan on 1:5000 scale for overall development of the state, he said.

Kamat made it clear that digging of low lying areas was a cognizable offence and authorities would initiate action on receiving complaints by mamlatdars and the district magistrates. At the sametime, he admitted that some of the departments had been working with inadequate staff.

Referring to haphazard growth of some areas in the state, the chief minister said government was likely to introduce a bill in the current session of the House for introducing uniform building regulations to ensure uniform growth.

Replying to demands on agriculture and animal husbandry, the chief minister said the government had been taking steps to provide the farmers with adequate support price for different produces to encourge farming in Goa where cultivation was lesser.

Asked about enhanced subsidies to farmers on lines abroad, the chief minister said the union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had assured him to send a central team to study the entire agriculture scenario in Goa for offering assistance, if required.

Replying to discussion on sports, the chief minister said government would encourage rural areas by providing them with adequate infrastructure facilities for all types of sports.

He assured the House that a Goan officer would be posted in charge of Goa Sadan in Delhi.

Ruling out any amendment to the Official Language Act as demanded by the UGDP and SGF, the chief minister said the government would encourage all languages in Goa.

The House later adopted all the 18 budgetary demands without the cut motions, which included amendment to the Official Language Act for recognising Konkani in Roman script as the official language.

UNI