Panaji, Jul 23 (IBNS): The Goa government will once again seek for special status for Centre’s financial assistance and protection of identity under section 371 on par with the North Eastern States.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the ongoing state legislative assembly that the government will approach the new union finance minister for considering the proposal, which was rejected by the then finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

“We hope the new President (Pranab Mukherjee) does not object to it,” Parrikar told the House.

He said that the state contributes Rs 10,000 crores annually for the central coffers but gets back a meager amount.

Migration of people to Goa and grabbing huge acres of fertile land for non-agricultural purpose prompted the state government to seek for special status.

Several requests by the state government were rejected earlier despite the state legislative assembly passing an unanimous resolution.

Mukherjee while on a campaign visit to Goa in February 2012 had told the media that national development council (NDC) decides on the special status for any state and not the central government.

(Reporting by John Edwards)