Panaji, March 30 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented the state budget for financial year 2022-23 of Rs 23,467.40 crore without imposing any new taxes. Presenting the budget, the Chief Minister said Gross State Domestic Product estimates at current prices for the year 2022-23 was estimated at Rs 91,416.98 crore indicating a growth rate of 7.07 per cent. The growth rate for Gross Value Added (GVA) is estimated at 4.73 per cent for primary sector, 6.52 per cent for the secondary sector and 9.66 percent for the tertiary sector. Goa’s per capita income at current prices continued to be front runner in the country at Rs 5.80 lakh. The Chief Minister said the budgetary outlay has been increased by 12.86 per cent. He said the allocation to the health sector has been increased to Rs 1970.20 crore which is 12.86 per cent above the allocation given in the previous year. He said the construction of a wholesale fish market at Margao at Rs 15.60 crore has been taken up and the next phase for providing mechanical equipment and cold storage at a cumulative cost of Rs 39 crore with Central Assistance is also proposed to be taken up in 2022-23. The Chief Minister said for the large-scale ongoing infrastructure works in the power sector and continuous advances in the Renewable Energy field, the allocation to the sector is Rs 3,230.50 crores for the year 2022-23. Stressing on generation of renewable energy, he said he had made a provision of Rs 10 crore for the year 2022-23 for providing a 50 per cent subsidy for solar rooftop for residential areas. Under the Electric Vehicle Policy as well as policy for charging station infrastructure, to promote clean and green energy in transportation, Rs 25 crore would be alloted to extend the financial assistance for purchase of Electric Vehicles. He said IT sector has been allocated Rs 143.84 crores and through that endeavor would be to achieve the delivery of various citizen centric services through 246 common service centers and to add more services including those of Directorate of Transport, Civil Supplies etc. He said the government will launch an “Entrepreneurship Policy” which would help youth to opt for self employment and help them identify focus areas, banking linkages, robust market linkages and initial hand holding to ensure sustainability of their venture. Dr Sawant said for promoting international chartered flights in the state by bearing a part of parking and landing fees at Dabolim International Airport, a provision of Rs 5 crores has been earmarked. He said Goan hinterlands would be developed through development of ecotourism and nature education park for Western Ghats at Selaulim and trekking corridors and camping areas at Dudhsagar along with supporting infrastructure. However, the Chief Minister had not increased any taxes. He said revenue leakages and undertaking reforms will curtail the expenditure on redundant activities. ”This year I will bring in various reforms, rationalize the tax slabs on various components and undertake strict enforcement measures with which I expect to mobilize additional revenue to the State Government. The action on this will be visible in due course of time,” he said. The budget was presented in English and Konkani. This was the first budget presented by Dr Sawant after he was sworn-in as chief minister for the second consecutive term. He is yet to distribute portfolios among his cabinet colleagues. AKM SHK2045