the goan I network
PANAJI
Taking a tough stand against two senior bureaucrats, the Lokayukta has recommended disciplinary action against the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues and former commissioner Deepak Dessai, after accusing both officers of having failed to avoid a loss to the exchequer in the pay-parking scam.
Goa Lokayukta PK Mishra issued the order on September 17, after acting on a complaint by an activist, Mukundaraj Mudras.
The case pertains to the pay-parking scam when Rodrigues had previously served as CCP commissioner from April 13, 2012 to May 8, 2016 and was later replaced by Deepak Desai.
Mudras had incidentally filed two complaints before the Lokayukta and the vigilance department against the CCP commissioners in 2017.
It may recalled that the CCP had entered into a contract with M/s Straight Deal Services in May 2016 to have a pay-parking system in certain areas within Panaji city.
One of the conditions in the contract involved the payment of Rs 5.23 lakh per month as advance cheque by contractor to the CCP.
However, Mudras claimed that the contractor had only paid Rs 6 lakh till February 2017 and authorities concerned did not take action, though the terms of the agreement had stipulated that the contractor had to deposit license fees in advance every month.
Mudras had also contended that the CCP officials had failed to act against the contractor for violating the terms of the contract by collecting parking fees on Sundays, on holidays and at night. As per the agreement, the contractor was authorised to collect parking fees between 8 am and 8 pm on all days, excluding Sunday and public holidays.
The complainant had showed a copy of receipt dated March 28, 2017, which was a holiday (Gudi Padva), towards a parking fee of Rs 10. The complainant also showed a complaint made to commissioner through email on this matted on 5 March 2017 on which the commissioner did not act. In their defence, the commissioners contended that the CCP in its meeting in August 2016 has decided to give a 50% rebate to contractor, as the contractor has raised grievance before the CCP.
The commissioners also said that the CCP had initiated proceedings to get the contract to forfeit the bank guarantee of Rs 6.30 lakh and EMD of Rs 2 lakh. When contacted, Mudras welcomed the order of the Lokayukta and said that while the Lokayukta had passed an order on his complainant but the Vigilance department was yet to do so. “The case has been proved beyond doubt before the Lokayukta and the order has been issued. The question now arises as to why the vigilance department has not initiated an inquiry against the two officers in the last two years,” said Mudras.
