PANAJI
The much awaited report of the three-member technical committee on the alleged “corruption”, “irregularities”, and “illegalities” in the iconic Kala Academy renovation work is expected to be submitted to the Government this week.
The Committee is in the final stage of drafting the findings, which are based on the internal inquiry, documentations and statements of the various officials, who were part of the work.
Government sources confirmed that the Committee will be submitting its report, mostly this week as the investigation has completed and is working on drafting findings and recommendations.
Sources said that the committee, headed by WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami, has gathered all documents from the Public Works Department (PWD) - the nodal agency for executing the renovation work, pertaining to the estimates and payments related to various renovation works of Kala Academy. Also, the details were obtained with regards to works, for which order was issued on nomination without tendering process and the total expenditure involved in those works.
Notices were issued and statements were recorded of various officials from the departments of PWD, Art and Culture and the contractors, to whom the works were awarded, sources said.
The Committee was constituted in January, last year, under ex-Principal of Goa Architectural College Dr Ashish Rege. However, Rege failed to conduct any investigation and following his retirement, Badami was nominated by the government.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) as well as the Vigilance department in their inquiry, conducted in 2022, had concluded indicating prima facie scam in the entire work.
The Kala Academy building was renovated at a cost of Rs 56 crore and the allegation was of a Rs 49 crore scam.
