the goan I network
PANAJI
Alleging that tourism department officials have paid a beach cleaning agency for dust bins which were never purchased, NGO Hope Foundation has filed a complaint to Lokayukta regarding this alleged dustbin scam.
The petition has demanded that all the tourism officers involved in alleged defrauding of the exchequer should be suspended and recovery proceedings be initiated.
The NGO has also sought that an interim order be passed on buying further dustbins.
Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, petitioner Inacio Domnick Pereira demanded that Tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar should step down taking moral responsibility of the alleged Rs 64 lakh scam.
In the complaint, Hope Foundation has said that tourism department officials have conspired with the private agency which produced fake bills for the dustbins and looted the exchequer.
“Bulk purchase of dustbins has been done without following the tendering process. This entire scam is worth Rs 64 lakhs,” alleged Pereira.
The tourism department has even failed to specify the required number of dustbins to be placed on beaches as there is no contract or agreement regarding the purchase of dustbins, he said, adding that the Tourism department never verified whether the dustbins that were purchased were actually assigned to the beaches.
Pereira further alleged that the government has extended the contract given to the agency to clean the beach without tendering the works.
Dustbins were never supplied and provided on the beaches,he said.
Meanwhile, the NGO Hope Foundation has filed a complaint with the Panaji police against a lady official of the agency for threatening him outside the press conference venue on Tuesday.
