the goan I network
PANAJI
Independent MLAs Rohan Khaunte, Vijai Sardesai and Naresh Sawal on Wednesday alleged that the ongoing campaign of distributing
LED bulbs is in violation of the rules of business of
government.
Addressing the media at Panaji, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai stated, “Goa government’s LED bulb distribution campaign is in violation of rules of business of government which doesn’t allow government functions to be transformed into party events.”
The campaign was termed as a ‘complete breakdown of constitutional machinery’ with Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte showing images of banners outside LED bulb distribution stalls, which had neither the logo of Goa government nor the central government, but bore references to the BJP and its mandal.
“This tantamount to having a mandal function at government expense,” Khaunte said.
The trio announced that they will seek legal opinion on the matter prior to submission of a complaint before the Lokayukta or a Public Interest Litigation before the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal questioned the quality of the LED bulbs being distributed. Displaying one such bulb, he pointed out that it did not bear an ISI mark and the actual price of the unit was not printed on the bulb.
“We will bring this to the notice of the department of legal metrology,” Sawal stated while adding that three
such LED bulbs are available at the cost of a mere `70 as against `1,200 printed on several banners.
Alleging that a scam is in the making with the exchequer being looted of `1,100 after every three bulbs, he said, “The bulbs distribution
benefits not the people of Goa but some bulb manufacturers in Delhi.”
Sawal suggested that the government should instead consider reducing electricity bills by `50.
The Goa Forward mentors also informed that all Opposition MLAs received phone calls from the electricity department asking them to
remain present for the distribution function and that none of them received any formal communication about
the functions in their
constituencies.
