Dec 20 – Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allocate nearly Rs 10,000 crore for various developmental and ecological projects during a pre-budget meeting held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Among the key demands, Sawant highlighted the need for Rs 500 crore to revive Khazan farming. He also sought Rs 5,000 crore for the upgradation of the Konkan Railway route, along with Rs 1,500 crore for the construction of new railway tunnels to improve connectivity. Additionally, the CM requested Rs 1,000 crore for the replacement of aging water pipelines and another Rs 1,000 crore to safeguard the Western Ghats, a crucial ecological zone. Sawant also proposed the introduction of Superfast or Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Goa to Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad for the benefit of Goans working in the IT sector in these cities. “The 15th Finance Commission had recommended Rs. 200 crores to the State of Goa for Tourism Development and Rs. 500 crores for Climate Change – Waste to Energy and Renewable Sources of Energy. The State-specific Finance Commission grants may be released to Goa in this FY 2025-26,” CM urged with the Center. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, chaired the meeting on pre-Budget consultation with states and Union Territories for the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26 in Jaisalmer today.
