Tweeting a video of former BJP MLA who labelled the ‘Tourism Master Plan’ as a “cut and paste” job, the Congress on Friday asked Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte whether he agrees with his former colleague’s assertion and to explain to people of Goa on waste of public money on the consultants who prepared the tourism policy.
The Congress also urged the Tourism Minister to come out with a white paper on various tourism projects launched by the BJP government and their present status.
“Rohan Khaunte must tell the people what was the intent of the consultant for doing a copy and paste work of the Master Plan and Tourism Policy which cost the ex-chequer almost Rs 5 to 6 crores,” said Amarnath Panjikar, Chairman of Congress media cell.
Panjikar was reacting to the recent statement of the Tourism Minister that most of the objections filed against the draft jetty policy was a cut and paste job.
Former BJP MLA, Glen Ticlo during a discussion in the Goa Legislative Assembly had questioned the monies spent to the consultant to prepare the tourism master plan which appeared to be “just a copy and paste” job.
The State government had in 2014 selected KPMG Advisory Services to prepare a 25-year tourism master plan for Goa.
Continuing, Panjikar asked the Tourism Minister to show courage and come out with a white paper on various tourism projects launched by the BJP government in the last ten years and their present status.
“Let him come clean on the beach cleaning scam which he had exposed when he was an Independent MLA. Let him reveal the details of total staff strength engaged by the Tourism Department to monitor various activities on beaches and other tourist locations,” he said.
He said that the Tourism Minister should stop playing to the gallery by making statements and announcements of proposals or plans which are not coming under his jurisdiction.
“He should first act against corrupt and fraudulent officials of the Tourism Department and the Goa Tourism Development Corporation who are responsible for the mess,” he said.
He further said that Khaunte first tried to grab the powers of Captain of Ports and River Navigation Department to prepare the jetty policy and now he has intruded into the Home Department.
“The Tourism Minister has said that the recent order promulgated by the Tourism Department gives powers to the police to imprison those who are involved in creating nuisance. How can the Tourism Department give powers to police who come under the Home Department,” he asked.
