Goa expects Rs 400 cr revenue from mining in 2016-17

Panaji, Mar 8: After four sluggish years, the Goa government expects to earn a revenue of Rs 300-400 crore from the ban-hit mining industry in 2016-17.

The ban on the mining industry has resulted in a loss of around Rs 5,000 crore, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said. "After the BJP government was sworn in, in 2012, the main source of income -- mining -- had come to a standstill, resulting in loss of about Rs 1,200-1,300 crore annually in the last four years," Parsekar told PTI.

"The government expects a revenue of Rs 300-400 crore in the coming financial year, which will also be reflected in the estimates of the Budget, to be tabled on March 16," he added.

He admitted that loss of such a huge revenue affected state's financial health during his government's tenure, which completes four year in office tomorrow.

"Luckily, during last one-and-half year, we have a changed scenario due to the BJP (government) at the Centre. Though we have not asked for any package, the Centre's viewpoint towards state governments has changed and all states have benefited largely through the central kitty," he said.

Parsekar termed it as a tough challenge when he took charge from his predecessor Manohar Parrikar in November last year after the latter moved to the Union Cabinet. "... we expanded many social welfare schemes, inducted new ones like Griha Adhar and Ladli Lakshmi.

Moreover, gradually a number of developmental works were also taken up," he said, adding that all this resulted in an additional burden on finances.

"This year, we cannot say that we will be giving an election budget (as polls are due before the next budget). We will work on clearing hurdles in implementation of various government and social welfare schemes."

PTI