Goa Government Under Pressure Over Raj Bhavan Building Plans

The Goa Congress criticised the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government last Friday over plans to construct a new Raj Bhavan building in the state. The chief minister (pictured left) recently committed to the project and said work identifying a suita♓ble land plot would start soon.

It was alleged in a statement by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chi♍ef Girish Chodankar (pictured right) that the complex would be rented out when completed to a ཧprivate company that wants to run a casino and spa resort.

Chodankar added: "The chief minister had admitted during the one-day assembly s🐠ession that the s𒁃tate's finances are in a bad shape. Despite that, the government announced projects like construction of new Raj Bhavan building and renovation of the Assembly complex, which need crores of rupees."

Goa BJP chief Sadanand Tanavade deflected the allegations by simply replying that, "Chodankar should first know tꦡhe facts before making irresponsible statements."

Just last week it was revealed that the City of Panaji was reviewing licence proposals fr☂omꦿ several offshore casinos to keep operating on the Mandovi river - the symbol of mu🎶ch dispute between successive governments and the casino industryౠ in Goa.

The state of the government’s coffers - badly hit by the coronavirus shortfall - was cited as one of the prim♛ary reasons why the proposals look likely to get the go-ahead.