Some of the new officers in departments are reeling withshock at the extent of the mess in their departments. So far, a 1200 crore plusliability bill that mainly consists of non-payments to two power authorities “the NTPC and Reliance and outstanding PWD payments “ besides non payments to the pension fund and other heads has been cleared. Butthere’s an aftershock almost daily.
The latest is the Rs 70 crore diversion of payments meantfor the removal of the River Princess vessel from the Sinquerim coast. In amanner which became the norm of the previous government, it is known that themoney was diverted but it’s not known where it was diverted to. So weeffectively have a situation where Rs 70 crores is missing from the exchequer.This Rs 70 crore came from the central disaster management fund, disbursed toother account heads to raise the amount and pay the contractors. The Parrikargovernment now finds itself in an awkward situation as it cannot approach thecentre for more funds under disaster management. M/s Ariihant Shipping Pvt Ltdwho have completed the task of removing the vessel have started pursuing forpayment of their bills to the tune of approximately Rs 1 crore.
The Chief Minister must include identification of theperpetrators of the mess and punishing them as a key element of the cleansingprocess. The figures are massive and can fund several schemes of education,health and social welfare. Rs 1200 cores and now Rs 70 crores. These aren’tmean figures and if the government does not know where it meant, the obviousconclusion is that politicians and officials have juggled accounts. The money,with interest much be recovered, if need be, from the personal coffers of thoseresponsible. And this isn’t limited to just the immediate messes in questionbut all major scams that pockmarked the Kamat government.
So Mr Parrikar, please produce the guilty before us andempty their pockets as they have emptied ours.
