PANAJI
With just 51 days left, the State still awaits Rs 300 crore requested from the Centre for the decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier.
Amidst the looming deadline, there has been no official communication from either the State or the Centre regarding the funds. However, official sources told The Goan that Goa might make another appeal to the Centre as the days are inching closer and need for precise arrangement is on priority.
“This request, even if it falls short of the initial proposal made during the pre-budget, will provide at least some financial relief for infrastructure and logistics. We are expecting a huge gathering of devotees and VIPs for which Goa needs to be a good host,” sources said.
The State's hopes were dashed when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget made no mention of the requested allocation. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended, explaining that such provisions are usually not mentioned in the Budget.
Ironically, the request was made during the pre-budget meeting in Delhi in June, headed by Sitharaman wherein Sawant sought Rs 8,000 crore for various developmental projects in Goa including Rs 300 crore for St Francis Xavier’s Exposition and Rs 700 crore for water augmentation schemes.
With the Union Budget omitting Goa’s request, the Goa government made an interim arrangement by allocating Rs 10 crore in its State Budget to begin preparations.
The last Exposition, held in 2014, attracted over 60 lakh pilgrims from across India and abroad, and this year's turnout is expected to be even higher. "We need to ensure the infrastructure is in place for the smooth conduct of this global event. Until the availability of the funds sought, we are trying our best to utilise available resources,” the source said.
Union Minister of State and North Goa MP Shripad Naik acknowledged the need for improved infrastructure and assured to speak to Sawant to remind the Centre about the proposal. "I will take this up with the CM," he told The Goan stating that as the former Union MoS (Tourism) he had sanctioned Rs 102 crore for tourism upgrades, including the Old Goa UNESCO circuit.
Sources further revealed that Goa has not received the entire funds for the 'Goa at 60' celebrations after delaying submission of the utilisation report for the initial grant. In 2021, the Finance Minister announced a grant of Rs 300 crore for the event with Rs 150 crore disbursed in the first phase. However, the second installment is yet to arrive as utilisation report was submitted only last November.
