Khaunte files complaint with Lokayukta against Parulekar
Names directors, dy directors of tourism department
the goan I network
PANAJI
Besides the Tourism Minister, Khaunte has named other directors and deputy directors of the Tourism Department from January 1, 2013 till date as the accused as the files pertaining to the scam were processed and approved during their tenure.
The two companies “ Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt Ltd and Ram Cleaners and Developers Pvt Ltd “ which have common directors and were awarded the contracts for North and South Goa respectively have also been named as the accused.
In his complaint, Khaunte has alleged that though both the companies qualified for the tender, the terms and conditions of the tender were manipulated and changed to suit the contractors.
Khaunte has also attached the documents with notings by the then Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“The proposal of Tourism Department has bypassed all the major points raised during the discussions. The contract is messed up and the tender documents have been weak on forcing execution”, reads the noting signed by Parrikar.
Speaking to media persons after submitting the complaint to the office of the Lokayukta, Khaunte said, “Beach cleaning has been one of the biggest scams of this government and we have been repeatedly asking the State Government to act upon it. But even though we raised the issue during the last two assembly sessions, the chief minister did not act.”
Speaking further, he said, “Even the state-level committee which was formed under the chairmanship of tourism minister which was supposed to give the details of the grading system of the performance of the contractors within 5 months has not had a single meeting. This is the nepotism of the government where it has actually favoured these two contractors.”
Alleging hidden agenda behind the entire beach cleaning tender, Khaunte said, “This is the testing time for newly appointed lokayukta. We still have expectations that we will get justice.”
“We have prayed that the contract should be terminated and the money paid to them should be recovered. Additionally, we have also attached a list of witnesses including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. And the tourism minister should immediately resign from his chair for having backed this scam,” he said.
It’s political stunt, claims Parulekar
PANAJI: “This is a political stunt as the elections are fast approaching. The issue has already been debated several times in the Assembly also. There is nothing to hide as everything is on paper,” said tourism minister Dilip Parulekar.
“One and a half year back, the Vigilance Department also had conducted an inquiry after they received a complaint on the beach cleaning contract. Our officers were also called interrogations. It is over and nearly six months back the vigilance department has returned the files pertaining to beach cleaning,” added Parulekar.
