the goan I network
MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the budget for the new financial year will lay stress on the rural development of the State, saying Goa will be total
Open Defecation Free (ODF), will be cent per cent
electrified and connected with tap water facility by March 2020.
Inaugurating the SARAS 2020 at the SGDPA grounds here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to ensure rural development, which in turn will help bring hinterland tourism in the State. “I want to make clear that the ODF scheme will be fully implemented by March 31. Even those who were using community toilets will get individual toilets by March 31”, he said.
Turning to tap water, the Chief Minister said while 87 per cent of the State population receives tap
water, the government is committed to provide 100 per cent tap water by March 31. Similarly, he said Goa will achieve 100 per cent electrification by March 31 by connecting certain houses in the talukas of Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, Sattari etc with power connections.
In fact, the Chief Minister disclosed that the government would make budgetary provision in the coming financial
year to bring about rural development of the State.
Laying stress on reviving agriculture, the Chief Minister said that agriculture was ignored all these years when mining industry was the mainstay of Goan economy. “There’s vast scope for giving boost for agriculture. Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar is doing a good job and has set on the task of setting up an Agriculture University”, he said, while assuring that Mining will resume later this year.
Saying that the government had concentrated on coastal tourism all these years, Sawant said that
hinterland tourism can help improve the economy of the rural areas of the State.
In his address, Dy CM said SARAS provides an opportunity for the rural artisans and self help groups to showcase their products. He said Goa is making progress in all fields under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and sought cooperation of all people to take Goa forward.
RDA Minister Michael Lobo assured the people and the Self Help groups that the government is
committed to provide a permanent venue for them to show case their products.
