Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the state has made significant progress on both the mining and fiscal fronts, with iron ore block auctions moving steadily and budget utilisation expected to touch 95 per cent by the end of the financial year.
Speaking to reporters after reviewing budget utilisation with senior officers, the Chief Minister informed that a total of 12 iron ore mineral blocks have been auctioned so far. Of these, five blocks have already commenced operations, while four more are in the process of starting. He added that the government plans to auction six additional mineral blocks next month.
Dr Sawant also said that consent has been granted to five companies to lift iron ore dumps located on private land. He further announced that auctions of dumps, in accordance with the government’s policy, will begin within this month, a move expected to further boost mining activity and revenue.
On the financial front, the Chief Minister stated that by the end of November, the state had utilised 54 per cent of its budget. Expressing confidence in the pace of expenditure, he said the government is on track to achieve around 95 per cent budget utilisation by March 31.
“All project proposals are already in the pipeline and clear directions have been issued to departments to fulfil the assurances made,” Dr Sawant said. However, he acknowledged that revenue collections had been affected due to cuts in Goods and Services Tax (GST), which impacted the state’s overall income.
The Chief Minister said regular reviews with senior officials are being conducted to ensure timely execution of projects and efficient utilisation of funds, while maintaining fiscal discipline despite revenue constraints.
