July 20, 2006

Today's News from the Assembly

from daijiworld's special correspondent

Inquiry into Kadamba affairs assured

Panaji: Following criticism by the opposition on the floor of the house, the transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar, on Thursday assured to inquire into the affairs of boards of state-government run Kadamba transport corporation limited (KTCL).

The BJP legislators led by leader of opposition, Manohar Parrikar, today tried to put the government on the mat over KTCL board of directors (BoDs) issue contending that the board members were taking undue favours.

Parrikar demanded that the transport minister should take legal advice and make the board redundant as it has no (no) right to use their powers for their own benefit.

The BJP legislators, pointing out to the written reply in the state legislative assembly, stated that the BoD members had taken huge concessions to the tune of 15 per cent on hiring the KTCL buses for pilgrimage tours.

"When KTCL runs into loses, how can the BoD members avail such benefit which is not good for corporation's financial health," questioned BJP legislator Laxmikant Parsekar.

KTCL chairman, Harish Zantye, who is also a congress legislator, stood up to reply, which was objected by the opposition members claiming that only minister can reply.

Transport minister Madkaikar, while agreeing that such huge concessions by the board members is unwarranted, assured the state legislative assembly that he would look into the affairs of BoD.

The minister also stated that the memorandum of understanding would be signed between KTCL and state government to keep a check on functioning of the board

Development of Scheduled Tribes

Panaji: Goa government has spent Rs 18.91 lac on honing the skills of schedule tribe students through Goa state schedule tribe finance development corporation (GSSTFDC), social welfare minister, Subhash Shirodkar told the state legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Shirodkar told the house that 125 tutors and 3,206 students were benefited and Rs 18.91 lakh were spent through Gurukul Shiksha Yojna. "The scheme is designed to provide help and assistance to the student of the ST community by way of tuitions to improve their talents and help them to secure higher percentage," the minister stated in a written reply.

He said that honororium of Rs 2,000 per month is paid to the tutor selected under the scheme and amount of Rs 500 per month will be paid towards payment of rent, electricity charges and others.

The minister said that 318 people were benefited and Rs 1.59 crore was spent on Ashray Adhar scheme which helps the ST person to renovate his house. "Under this scheme up to Rs 5,000 is advanced as financial support in the form of loan at the rate of 3 per cent simple interest per annum," Shirodkar said in a reply.

The GSSTFDC has also spent 93 lac towards 42 beneficiaries under self-employment scheme, the minister said.

Need to Curb Foreigners' Owning Land Discussed

Panaji: In the wake of a controversy regarding foreigners buying huge plots of lands in Goa, Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane today said the state government would urge the Centre to curtail the duration of tourist visas from six months to three months.

"People arriving on tourist visas should not be allowed to stay for six months. Tourists who come to visit Goa usually don't stay here for more than two months," Rane said talking to reporters.

The state government recently revealed that 482 foreigners had purchased some 12 lac square metres of land in the state.

Local activists under the banner of "Goa Bachao Andolan" had protested against the purchase of properties by foreigers.

The Goa government will write to the Centre, asking it to curtail the tourist visa period from six months to three months, Rane said adding, "If they want to stay here longer, they can come on commercial visas.

Admitting that there were certain loopholes in the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) that need to be plugged, he said many foreigners had come here on six-month business visas and met local lawyers and formed companies with locals.

"They come back again to invest in restaurants or some businesses or buy a flat which is rented out. Sometimes, in between, they withdraw all the money and return to their country," Rane said.

The Goa government is yet to ascertain whether those who have purchased properties in the state had come here on business or tourist visas.