MAPUSA
Pushing his own government into a corner, a belligerent, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Sunday hardened his stand on the renovated erstwhile central jail at Fort Aguada and reiterated that he will never allow the renovated fort to be privatized.
Lobo also urged the people of Goa to provide a “purposeful direction” to the State in the forthcoming assembly elections.
“As we have our Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the renovated Fort Aguada jail, I take this opportunity to salute our freedom fighters who fought for our freedom and were imprisoned there. I also assure the people of Goa that this historic monument where our freedom fighters were lodged will never be privatized,” Lobo said, while unfurling the tricolour on the 60th Liberation Day of Goa at the government complex in Bardez.
Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza, Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council Shubanghi Vaigankar, councilors and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. Lobo, who has had a couple of run-ins with his cabinet colleague and Tourism Minister, Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar, has vociferously opposed handing of the operations of the renovated fort to a private entity for a pittance.
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has shortlisted M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd to look after operations and maintenance of the premises. As per the contract, the GTDC will earn revenue of Rs 1.44 crore per annum.
The premises has been renovated at a cost of Rs 26.69 crore by availing financial assistance from the ministry of tourism under the Swadesh Darshan I scheme and will showcase Goa’s liberation struggle to the visiting Indian and foreign tourists on the lines of Cellular Jail Andamans.
He also mentioned about the unprecedented damage caused by the Covid and although things were limping to normalcy, cautioned people not to lower their guard. The Ports Minister also touched on the subject of Swachha Bharat mission.
