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BJP releases 'millennium' blueprint for Goa

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

Banning the 'conversion' of agricultural land, developing Goa as an international shopping centre on par with Dubai, making it a plastic-free state, restricting the size of the state cabinet to eight members, and holding the long-awaited district council elections within six months are highlights of the Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto.

Sushma Swaraj, former Union minister, while releasing the manifesto here, commented that unlike other parties, the 45-page document of the BJP intended as an 'agenda for the new millennium' has proved that the party has concrete plans to develop Goa.

Manohar Parrikar, architect of the manifesto, says his party, if brought to power, would concentrate on issues relating to employment, infrastructure, education, law and order and corruption.

The five-page long proposals on freeing Goa from the debt trap speak of an annual additional revenue generation to the tune of Rs 1500 million during the ninth five year plan as the state would require Rs 750 million for infrastructural development alone.

In order to achieve the target, the BJP promises to generate Rs 1200 million by prudent financial planning and the remaining Rs 300 million by cutting down on wasteful expenditure.

In order to tackle increasing unemployment in the tourist state, the BJP promises 6000 jobs annually while also providing 18,000 government jobs by the year 2006.

However, the party also proposes to reduce the retirement age to 58 years and a golden handshake for those retiring at the age of 52 years.

Concerning infrastructural development, the saffron party plans to corporatise distribution of power, build more roads and bridges apart from setting up the state water grid.

It also has plans on information technology, the setting up of an international trade fair-cum-convention centre, promoting export-oriented agro industry and, of course, making tourism the prime industry.

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