VASCO
Demanding the appointment of a heritage conservation committee to assess the damage on the heritage MMC building, GPCC President Girish Chodankar said the scope of work and estimate made before tender of heritage building restoration works need to be made public.
"Work to restore the heritage MMC building has been awarded at Rs 9.28 crore, while the entire work taken up could be completed in a maximum of Rs 3.2 crore. This shows there is a scam and a fraud of Rs 6 crore,” said Chodankar, while addressing a news conference in Vasco.
“We also want to know where the centuries-old teak wood has gone after it was replaced by sheets. This amounts to theft of heritage items, which itself could be worth a few crores of rupees.”
“There has to be an investigation on what items are missing from the building, who has taken it or whether it has been sold and if so, at what value was it sold," said Chodankar
Chodankar claimed that that in a budget of Rs 9.2 crore, a building with 4 floors could be constructed but the works taken up at the MMC building were very minimal.
“The scope of work and estimates prepared for this tender must be made public so that we know what work was awarded and what work has been done till date,” said Chodankar.
“If the government does not take action, the Congress will file an FIR in the case to carry out investigation and enquiry in the scam.”
Chodankar claimed that besides Congress leaders, even a BJP legislator has been pointing fingers at Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant must immediately stop this work and appoint a reputed heritage conservation architect and assess the damage caused to the building and list out missing items. An FIR must be lodged against the contractor on charges of damage, defacement and fraud in the restoration of a heritage building. The CM must also carry out an investigation and recover the Rs 6 crore," said Chodankar.
"Work to restore the heritage MMC building has been awarded at Rs 9.28 crore, while the entire work taken up could be completed in a maximum of Rs 3.2 crore. This shows there is a scam and a fraud of Rs 6 crore,” said Chodankar, while addressing a news conference in Vasco.
“We also want to know where the centuries-old teak wood has gone after it was replaced by sheets. This amounts to theft of heritage items, which itself could be worth a few crores of rupees.”
“There has to be an investigation on what items are missing from the building, who has taken it or whether it has been sold and if so, at what value was it sold," said Chodankar
Chodankar claimed that that in a budget of Rs 9.2 crore, a building with 4 floors could be constructed but the works taken up at the MMC building were very minimal.
“The scope of work and estimates prepared for this tender must be made public so that we know what work was awarded and what work has been done till date,” said Chodankar.
“If the government does not take action, the Congress will file an FIR in the case to carry out investigation and enquiry in the scam.”
Chodankar claimed that besides Congress leaders, even a BJP legislator has been pointing fingers at Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant must immediately stop this work and appoint a reputed heritage conservation architect and assess the damage caused to the building and list out missing items. An FIR must be lodged against the contractor on charges of damage, defacement and fraud in the restoration of a heritage building. The CM must also carry out an investigation and recover the Rs 6 crore," said Chodankar.
