Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that his government would double the funds allocated to the Zilla Panchayats, which would be going for elections on March 22.
All the 50 constituencies of Zilla Panchayats in Goa would be going for polls on March 22, which is being held on the party lines.
Sawant told a gathering at Borim village in South Goa that his government intends to double the funds for Zilla Panchayats after the elections.
The chief minister was addressing an election campaign in favour of his party candidate in Borim Zilla Panchayat constituency.
He said that the Zilla Panchayat is an important institution linking state legislative assembly to the panchayats.
“Empowering Zilla Panchayats will provide impetus to the rural development in the state. Our government has been concentrating on rural development in a big way,” he said.
BJP has fielded candidates in around 40 zilla panchayat constituencies. Congress, Aam Admi Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party have also thrown their hat in the ring.
Sawant said that the “real Goan” (original Goan) is still living in the villages, who needs to be served through state government sponsored projects.
Taking on his political opponents, Sawant said that his government which will be completing one year in the chair has been fighting back several issues.
“We have been facing several issues including ban on the mining activity and Mahadayi Water dispute with Karnataka,” he said.
He accused former Congress chief minister Digambar Kamat, who is also currently Leader of Opposition, for being responsible for creating the problem like Mahadayi and mining.
“During his tenure, Kamat had sold Mahadayi to Karnataka. He is also responsible for the mining crisis,” he said referring to the rampant illegal mining which was reported during Kamat’s time as per M B Shah commission report.
The chief minister admitted that his government has failed on creating jobs in the state in last one year.
“In next two years, through staff selection commission, we will be providing 8,000-10,000 government jobs to the youth besides providing 30,000-40,000 vacancies in the private sector,” he said.
He said that the legislations would be enacted making it compulsory for the private industries to employ locals on priority basis.
“All those who are interested to work will get a job,” he commented.
