Panaji: Viresh Borkar, MLA of the Revolutionary Goans Party, on Friday raised concerns over road safety, coal handling, and inadequate allocation to agriculture while speaking during the Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Borkar said the state government has failed to implement basic road safety measures, alleging that even proper signboards are missing on many roads.
There are no road safety measures taken in the state. We don’t even have proper signboards. The Chief Minister had given assurances in the House earlier, but those are yet to be fulfilled, he said.
The RGP legislator also questioned the government’s stand on coal handling in the state, claiming there was widespread opposition to the activity.
Everyone is opposing coal handling, including BJP MLA Sankalp Amonkar, but the government still wants it to continue. If coal is harmful, then why is its handling not stopped? Borkar asked during the discussion.
Raising the issue of agriculture, Borkar said the sector was receiving very little attention in the state budget. According to him, only around one per cent of the budget has been allocated to agriculture.
He said the agriculture policy introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ravi Naik should be strengthened through adequate financial support.
If the Chief Minister wants to take forward the legacy of Ravi Naik, then the government should support the agriculture policy with funds. At least six per cent of the state budget should be allocated to agriculture, Borkar said.
He stressed that greater budget allocation in agriculture would help strengthen the rural economy and support farmers across the state.
