PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has issued notice to the State government seeking a response to a petition filed by the Goa Forward Party which alleged that the state government had awarded work to a contractor without a tender.
The Goa Forward Party, in its petition before the court, said that the work that has been estimated to cost Rs 50 crore (which activists have said is vastly overpriced) has been given to the contractor on a nomination basis without following the due process of a tender by the government by invoking emergency clauses.
Work on the controversial project is well underway. Earlier, fearing that the government was out to demolish the historic building that was designed by noted architect Charles Correa, under the guise of renovation.
It was only after a written assurance by the state government before the High Court that 'no demolition will be undertaken' that the High Court allowed the work to proceed.
