Moreover, it’s a sought-a victory for the AAP, which does not have any seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly, but their constant work and debates on free utilities have finally paid off. Whether giving things for free or not is debatable, but they can now claim credit for their CMs Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement.
Now the question arises how CM would balance the finances and grant free water is another issue.
Already the Public Works Department has an outstanding of around Rs 200 cr of outstanding bills from consumers.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Finally, the State government and Chief Minister rejecting that nothing would come free has decided to give 16000 litres of water free from September 1.
One wonders what has led Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to take such a decision given the pathetic financial condition of the State.
Goa has a financial debt of over Rs 23000 cr, increasing with every passing month as Govt borrows hundreds of crores to pay salaries. Now this Chief Ministers largesse will add a few more crores to the burden.
Importantly, it gives a clear picture that CM feels threatened by the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who announced 300 units of free electricity.
Moreover, it’s a sought-a victory for the AAP, which does not have any seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly, but their constant work and debates on free utilities have finally paid off. Whether giving things for free or not is debatable, but they can now claim credit for their CMs Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement.
Now the question arises how CM would balance the finances and grant free water is another issue.
Already the Public Works Department has an outstanding of around Rs 200 cr of outstanding bills from consumers.
Despite the PWD launching the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS), many came forward to pay the arrears. What happens to the arrears now?
With the elections just a few months away, Chief Minister Sawant has made populist announcements like free water, 10000 jobs.
However, though he announced 10 k jobs last year, there has been no news of job advertisements so far. Even if he does in the next few months, the process will remain incomplete during the election code of conduct.
On the other hand, if the recruitment is carried out ahead of elections, there would be nothing less than a Rs 300 Cr additional burden annually.
In short, Sawant will make the administration and functioning impossible for the coming government.
There are currently hundreds of crores of unpaid contractor bills, and projects like Mala bridge and Atal Setu are stuck for non-availability of funds. Why is Dr Sawant adding fuel to the fire?
In the last two and half years of his tenure, he has done nothing to increase the State revenue but instead burdened the common man with more and more taxes.
The netizens have rightly said they do not want free water if possible give us rebate on LPG and the petrol price, which has skyrocketed.
Giving some rebates on diesel and petrol will bring down the prices of essential commodities.
Another important thing is with the record increase in LPG, some rural families have started reverting back to either kerosene stoves or firewood.
Competing with Delhi is really not in the interest of Goa; Delhi GST collection of Rs 35000 to 40,000 cr while the Goa’s is hardly Rs 3500 cr.
There was an old Hindi movie “Aamdani Athani, Kharcha Rupayya” meaning earning is 0.50 paise and expenditure of Rs 1.