Coalition government’s CMP delivered minimum

PANAJI: It’s been a year since the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government launched its common minimum programme (CMP). The CMP was launched on June 18 last year with great fanfare, but the state government has failed to carry on the momentum. What is visible are the works on ongoing projects such as bridges, while there is lack of any major policy decision as enunciated in the CMP.

There seems to be a policy paralysis on major issues promised by the government - land use policy, Regional Plan, offshore casinos, affordable housing, plastic-free and garbage-free state, quality education, land protection among others, observers say.


Town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai told TOI that there has been a slight delay in implementing the CMP due to the chief minister’s ill-health. “We will achieve all the things listed in the CMP. Goans are intelligent and they will understand us,” Sardesai said.

On March 14, 2017, BJP formed the government with MGP and Goa Forward, along with the support of independents, “to work for the betterment of Goans” through an agreed upon common minimum programme under the theme of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas — with Goemkarponn’.

As far as the controversial coconut tree status was concerned, under pressure from Goa Forward Party, the Parrikar-led government got the previous BJP government’s policy reversed.

As per the CMP, in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, the government has to formulate suitable policies and provide financial support to encourage mechanised farming and agriculture, brand Goan farm products, and encourage and facilitate setting up of agriculture schools/colleges and agriculture/floriculture estates.

With a thrust on employment, the government was to modify the tourism policy to ensure high employment and employability of local youth. Nonetheless, the government has moved ahead with incentive schemes to those employing 80% local workforce.

The state government has said that its motto is housing for all by 2022. However, it has a lot to do in the next four years on this front like creating special hubs of affordable housing through the housing board on government land, and rehabilitating dwellers of slum and worn-down clusters through a special support package.

It is yet to formulate and implement a comprehensive mobility plan for efficient connectivity and complete all sports-related facilities for the National Games. There is no action plan for a comprehensive public transport system except in Panaji.

The government is yet to execute a tripartite MoU between Inland Waterways Authority of India, MPT and Captain of Ports to ensure that Goan rivers are managed by the state government. In the runup to the 2017 polls, Goa Forward Party was in the forefront demanding that local interests be protected.

The government is yet to formulate Regional Plan 2030, which has to be taken up taluka-wise for completion after the policy is formulated.

On the infrastructure front which is mentioned in the CMP, the work on major projects initiated by the earlier government are on. These include bridges and road widening of NH17 and NH4A as also NH17B for port connectivity.

Observers say that in less than four years, the Manohar Parrikar-led government will have to take giant steps to complete the pending works and take appropriate policy decisions to put the growth engine on track.