IANS

Panaji, Mar 26: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday announced that the Centre for Science and Industrial Research's (CSIR) former chief Raghunath Mashelkar has been asked to prepare a vision document for the state leading up to 2050.

Kamat, who also holds the finance portfolio, said in his budget speech that Mashelkar would head the Golden Jubilee Development council (GJDC), which has been assigned the task of drafting Goa's vision document for the period 2010 to 2050.

"The GJDc will advise the government on various aspects of development of the state in a mission mode," Kamat said, adding that Mashelkar, himself a Goan, has already agreed to head the council.

"The other members of this council shall be nominated in consultation with Mashelkar," Kamat said, adding that the council would be asked to suggest the critical areas for short and medium term development.

Kamat also said that the council would also advise the state government on spending the Rs.200 crore special package received from the central government for maintaining its beaches and increasing green cover.