Madkaikar acts, cancels one car Promises to clean up act, especially with petrol wastage oHERALDo Francis X Ribeiro
PANJIM, FEB 4 - In the aftermath of Herald expose bringing to light Sports Authority of Goa's plans to purchase two expensive luxury cars at a staggering cost of around Rs 20 lakh, for beneficiaries not known, a dismayed Sports Minister Mr Pandurang Madkaikar, immediately swung into action and cancelled the proposal to purchase one of the two vehicles proposed. Mr Madkaikar, on reading the Herald, summoned the Executive Director Mr V M Prabhudessai and asked him to furnish a report, which he found unsatisfactory on explanation. Mr Madkaikar's action stemmed from the fact that he found reasons cited in the report for the second car were not justified. It is pertinent to note here that sources close to Herald informed that the car was actually meant for Mr Mario Pinto, the honorary treasurer, whose work does not entail traveling at all and according to the SAG constitution is permitted to sanction amounts totaling upto only Rs 2,500. Mr Madkaikar immediately cancelled the proposal for one of the two vehicles, agreeing that the other vehicle for the Executive Director was appropriate. It may be noted here that, as of today, Mr Prabhudessai is equipped with a well functioning UNO Fiat. Mr Madkaikar speaking to Herald disclosed that these cars cost Rs 8 lakh each and expressed his determination to streamline wasteful expenditure within the Sports Authority of Goa. When Herald pointed out that day to day work undertaken by its officials who possess cars does to justify petrol bills produced by these officers, Mr Madkaikar, who also happens to be SAG's ex-officio chairman, expressed ignorance on the wastage of public funds, emerging from unmindful and careless abuse and misuse of facilities offered to its staff, such as using official cars for domestic purposes. Mr Madkaikar however was quick in assuring to look into the matter and said that he would ensure strict restrictions on wastage of public funds in his ministry. It is pertinent to note that no official car is ever seen parked at the SAG headquarters after official working hours. However the moot question is that even the decision to allot a car for Mr V M Prabhudessai remains illegal as this huge budget purchase till date was never sanctioned by the SAG General Body. This is important as the purchase of this facility amounts to nothing less than Rs 8 lakh. By the way, the beneficiary of the other car still remains a secret, specially in the background of Mr Prabhudessai's disclosure (Herald dated Feb 2) that he was not aware who the second car was actually meant for. What name then did his report to the Minister contain? So much for the SAG's transparency.
