Porvorim: During discussion on the budget, opposition and ruling legislators said that work on many projects under way still needs to be expedited, while basic facilities like seamless water supply and good roads have still not be provided in many areas in the state. They also criticised the rising borrowings by the state and said that the chief minister needs to clarify which contract employees will benefit from the budget provision of regularising their services.Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai called the 2026 budget a ‘balloon filled with hot air’. The per capita income in Goa has come down to Rs 1.5 lakh, he said.Sardesai said that budget was more of political announcements and financial illusions. “Your double engine govt’s tyres have burst, and growth has stagnated in the state. Rs 1,665 crore loan has been taken from the Centre by the state, yet you are showing it as revenue surplus budget. Additionally, Rs 3,100 crore was borrowed from the market,” said Sardesai.He said that no provision has been made for infrastructure for NEP implementation.“You cannot claim to be in surplus when you are borrowing thousands of crores simultaneously. Our debt has doubled from Rs 17,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore over the years. The state’s revenue is decreasing and debt is increasing. We are trapped in a cycle where Rs 2,000 crore just disappears to pay interest on govt’s past mistakes,” said Sardesai.He said health sector received reduced allocation for health and many old announcements were recycled in the budget.Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye said that there are several contract workers engaged by govt like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers and said that the CM should clarify which contract workers will benefit from his budget announcement of absorption in service on completion of 10 years as contract workers.Shetye said still many areas are not covered by public bus service in Goa, which needed to be addressed.Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that water supply needs to be streamlined in the state and that work on constructing a Ravindra Bhavan for Mapusa needs to be taken up on priority.Priol MLA Govind Gaude said that govt has not been able to ensure completion of a number of projects taken up for completion years ago.
