Goa looks at completing 98 projects by September 2021

PANAJI: After declaring that no new projects will be undertaken this year, the government issued a circular on Thursday desiring to review the implementation of important projects. Departments and corporations have been asked to list priority projects that can be completed before September 2021.
The government wants to complete 98 projects before September 2021.
The review is being carried out to resolve any interdepartmental issues or problems faced by the implementing agency, which hinders timely completion of work, the circular stated.
According to the circular, PWD will be able to undertake a maximum of 50 works — roads, bridges, water supply and sewage — of estimated Rs 10 crore each. The electricity department, water resources department and Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) will have to identify 15 priority projects that can be completed by September 2021. The minimum cost of each project must be Rs 5 crore.
Other departments will have to list three projects each estimated at Rs 5 crore, which can be completed before September 2021.
The circular stated that projects that have already been undertaken can also be included in the list. The departments have been asked to submit the lists of such projects by Friday.
A senior official said that this exercise is to allay fears of elected representatives who went rushing to the chief minister after he declared austerity measures recently.
“The fact is the government does not have money and completing projects that are underway is an exercise in itself,” the officer said.
He said that as of now they have been delaying sanctioned projects by making various excuses.
The government wants to ensure that some projects are ready for inauguration post September 2021, the officer said. There is something it can talk about when it faces an election in 2022. “Some MLAs have already told the chief minister that they will be in trouble if projects are discontinued,” he said.