The then Director of Tourism Mr. Ameya Abhyankar had on 11th December last year proposed that the current beach cleaning contract be terminated for not fulfilling major conditions of the tender. This has been revealed in the information obtained under RTI from the Tourism department. In his four page note Ameya Abhyankar while giving detailed reasons had further proposed that the department go in for a fresh tender.
The government the very next day transferred Ameya Abhyankar despite it being in the peak of the Tourist Season. As per the file notings the then Secretary Tourism R.K. Srivastava concurred with the proposal of Ameya Abhyankar and sent the file to the Tourism Minister. The Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar in his notings while directing that the matter be placed before the State level Monitoring Committee ordered that an opportunity of hearing be given to the contractor in fulfillment of the Principles of natural justice. The Goa Government in September 2014 awarded the contract of Comprehensive Management of cleanliness of North Goa Beaches to Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt Ltd at an annual cost of Rs 7, 51, 40,999 and the cleaning of South Goa beaches to Ram Cleansers & Developers Pvt Ltd at a cost of Rs 7, 04, 87,999. Both the companies are owned by Manish Mohata. Earlier the cleaning of Goa beaches was costing the State Government an average of a mere two crores annually. The Goa Lokayukta Justice P.K Misra is currently hearing the complaints filed alleging that the beach cleaning contract was a multi-crore scam. The next hearing is scheduled on August 2nd. The Lokayukta has already by an interim order restrained the Government from making any further payments to the beach cleaning contractor. The contractor instead of cleaning the beaches has been emptying the State coffers in connivance and collusion with Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and Avdhoot Parrikar the brother of former Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
