By Marcellus D’Souza

Apr 22: The Centre today realised Rs 2352 crore to Goa against an expenditure of Rs 245.04 crore.

This included Rs 1758.07 crore towards Goods and Service Tax (GST); Rs 150 crore towards Goa @60 as a ‘special assistance’; Grant for Health sector Rs 31.45 crore; Grant for Local bodies (Urban and Rural) Rs 78.50 crore against an expenditure of Rs 46. 10 crore.

The center granted a Covid package Rs 7.60 crore; Rs 2352 crore from central government for 2021-22 against an expenditure of Rs. 198. 94 crore and a Loan for Capital expenditure Rs 111.04 crore.

Mauvin Godinho, who was re-appointed to the Council in the 0.2 Pramod Sawant government said. “That repeated requests from small states like Goa had resulted in the GST council giving first preference when it came to devolution of tax revenue shares as compared to bigger states”. “Goa is due around Rs 250 crore from the Centre in form of its GST share”, he had added.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had visited Delhi and had met with PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. This was his first visit to Delhi after taking over the reins after winning the recently held elections in Goa and being sworn in as chief minister to form his 0.2 government. At the meetings in Delhi various issues pertaining to the state to take development ahead were discussed with the PM. Modi had assured Sawant of possible help and assistance.

On his return to Goa, he had held a detailed meeting with the Finance department.

In his budget announced on March 31, Sawant had announced Rs. 40 crore towards three LPG cylinders free of cost to people of Goa. The chief minister had presented a Rs 24,467.40 crore budget with no additional taxes while putting stress on plugging revenue leakages.