PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat has said that the budget presented by him in the state assembly on Thursday is growth-oriented budget, that has given more thrust on agriculture and infrastructure development keeping in tune with the central budget.

Addressing a press conference, after presenting the budget in the House, Mr Kamat, who is also the state Finance Minister, said that he has not taxed the common man.

He also said that despite implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, his government was able to tide over the situation of revenue deficit as the central government pumped in Rs 200 crore by way of royalty on mining export.

He said that his aim is to take the e-governance to the common man, for whom it is intended, and that the committee comprising of Mr Vijay Bhatkar and others will help the government how to go about it.

He also said that he has roped in the services of Dr R Mashelkar to prepare a 50 year road map for development of the state and added that he has proposed to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of the colleges in the state.

The excise and commercial tax departments have met the targets set by his government and even exceeded them, Mr Kamat said adding in view of reservation his government deferred the implementation of the professional tax announced in the budget for the year 2009-10 and despite that
it managed well.