MAPUSA
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday told the Assembly that the government was on “disinvestment overdrive” leasing tourism properties to private entities without following proper procedures and challenged if the process went through the central vigilance commission (CVC) guidelines.
Sardesai said Goan properties which were acquired for a pittance were being handed over to private entities right, left and centre by the tourism department.
He said the Britona, Miramar and Colva residencies owned by the tourism department have been handed over to these entities for 60 years.
He further informed that the popular Quarterdeck restaurant in Panaji has also been given away for a measly amount of Rs 63 lakh per year.
Responding to the charges, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said since Goa was a preferred tourism destination, the government was trying to go beyond the beaches and therefore focusing on infra development.
“The government is not into business but works as a facilitator. We have signed agreements with various people for various types of hotels and hotel inventory. We need to look at the infrastructure. Besides increasing room inventory, we are also focusing on quality than quantity,” Khaunte said.
He said there was nothing to hide and the tourism department has followed proper procedures while leasing the properties.
The Tourism Minister informed that the Colva property of around 13,000 sq mts has been taken on private investment mode which will be developed on a build, finance, operate and transfer basis.
“We are not going to build anything. The investor will create the infra. He will pay fees of Rs 98.45 crore plus 5 per cent revenue share of gross turnover,” he said.
Similarly, he informed that the Panjim Park (including the Quarterdeck) of around 5,000 sq mts has been leased for Rs 63 lakh per year which was earlier generating just Rs 27 lakh.
Khaunte said the Colva property has been allotted to MGV Food Pvt Ltd and the Panaji Park (Quarterdeck) property was allotted to Trishul.
Picking holes in the procedure of selecting the bidder, the Fatorda MLA said some solid investors were ignored and the property of Panjim Park was given to a favourite bidder and sought to know if the allotment was passing the central vigilance commission (CVC) guidelines.
Khaunte informed that the department has gone through every process which was very transparent.
“We are all following the tender system as per CVC guidelines. We did not bypass any procedure,” he said.
