PANAJI: The state government finally woke up and formed the third State Finance Commission, and has appointed former Finance Secretary Daulat Hawaldar as chairman.
Y Durgaprasad, Director of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation, will act as Secretary of the Commission member.
The Commission’s constitution has been delayed since 2008.
The main task is to recommend how taxes, tolls and costs collected by the state government must be distributed between state and local agencies.
“Goa government is happy to be Afresh, the third State Finance Commission,” said Director of Panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar.
In addition to Hawaldar and Durgaprasad, Gurunath Potekar has also been appointed as a member.
“In addition to the above, the Director, City Administration, Director, Panchayats, Joint Secretary or additional secretaries, finance and account directors will be invited to the Commission,” Halankar said.
The Commission report will also determine the appropriation and installation of taxes, duties, toll roads and costs by local bodies and grants – in assistance to local agencies from state consolidation funds.
The three members’ committee will recommend the steps needed to increase the financial position of the local body of Goa.
The appointment of the commission has been waiting since 2008-09.
In January 2020, Chairman of the Pramod Ministry of Sawant, who held a financial portfolio, has promised to form a commission.
“The state needs to establish the State Financial Commission as early as possible to the functioning of the economy,” Chairperson of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh, said when he was in Goa in January 2020.
Congress Mla Draw Kamate and Congress former Porvorim Mla Rohan Khaunte has repeatedly questioned the delay appoint commissions.
The term member of the third financial commission is for the initial period of one year, when the report needs to be submitted.