For Goanet readers about my views:
Stephen Dias D.Paula (Former Scientist of NIO) ======================================================== Ref: GT reported a news on DIRECTOR NIO on 5th July 2014 title “ NIO DIRECTOR SPLURGES RS 50 LAKH . Dear Amitabh, Editor Gomantak Times With the above reference regarding exposing of our DIRECTOR NIO on your paper, on various charges appears to be wrong and malafide. Do you remember that I was the one who took you first to my Director Dr Naqvi, and introduced you in his cabin, since you were interested on some scientific matters? Now, when this kind of news appeared in your paper I really overreacted and said to myself whether this Director of NIO is really at fault? The language written was not from a scientist but from a journalist. Although the person must have handed over documentation and paper received from RTI from ONGC , the report appears to be exaggerated.. Since I was the one who took you to him I expected that my Director will call me and say “ Dias what kind of report appeared in this paper and whether the Editor or somebody else has reported this allegation?” But he did not do it. As far as I know this present Director Dr S.W.A Naqvi, I must tell you that he is a clean person and nothing wrong he has done. I give one example, when I have requested him, there is a case of River Princess and the amount of 99 crores is likely to get it cleared by the Tourism Dept when they have not done a proper job of recovering all the debris of this Princess where the contractor Aryhant went on bribing each and every person, at that point of time, Govt of Goa and Chief Minister of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar put his foot down and said that NIO should check and give them the report. This Director based on my request deputed my colleagues of Instrumentation Group including himself ( dr. Naqvi) and found that the debris were still intact and there could be an environmental problem and disaster and also navigational hazards for navigating fishing trawlers and other ships in that area. Also to be more precise this Director went down and dived and saw by himself that the Princess debris was still remaining to be recovered. He has also told me that when this Institute is in Goa, although he is a Non-Goan, he felt that he should do some good job and that he never charged a single penny for the Goa Govt for all the expenses incurred. If somebody from other states or from Central Government had complained why this survey was done free of cost by putting this Institute at loss? He had no answer but he did not bother as long as his conscience says that he has done a good job. Some of the Editors in Goa, could have very well reported this allegation also. Now , coming to the report which you have reported, I must say that this kind of expenditure are peanuts for this Institute as long as the money is not siphoned for his personal gain. About the costly vehicle I say it is a must, as the old vehicle Ambassador is really to be condemned. That is the reason he must have bought the new and good one and all future Directors would be happy for it. His term is likely to be over unless CSIR wants him to continue. There are plenty of such high end vehicles running in this state and that too with Siren and Red Light and the Govt of Goa still not taken steps to stop them although Supreme Court has instructed all the States to be strict and check for malpractices. The accommodation which is an official and not his personal he decided to be refurbished well and give good impression for other new Directors who would like to stay in this accommodation in future. Dr.Ehrlick Desa ex-Director NIO, stayed in this accommodation and I know that accommodation was good because I used to frequently visit him for official matters as I was a Group Leader. Earlier Dr. S.Z Quasim, Dr. Varadachari and Dr. Siddiqui stayed in the same accommodation. You see how many Directors stayed therefore the accommodation must have gone bad. Lastly when Dr Satish Shetye tenure, ( now Vice-Chancelor of Goa University), he has found that this accommodation was really useless, he has decided not to take it up, and stayed at his residence at Tonca. Therefore Mr Amitabh you should have cross questioned this person who has approached you to get this reported. Dr. Naqvi took this decision although his tenure is getting over but his name and the Director bungalow will exist for future Directors to see and stay, so that the name of CSIR will always remain high. Regarding the travel by executive AIR mode, it is a customary that many of us used to travel in all kind of modes including AIR earlier on non entitled mode, for sponsored projects and the Director has the power to send us by non class mode even in AIR and it was approved due to exigency and urgency of the work anywhere in India. Many of my colleagues went on non entitled mode and nobody has complained. CSIR and the Audit is aware of these circumstances and for you this must be a new thing, as you might have seen many scams of different kind existing in India but not in NIO. One idiot came to you and complained? That is really bad. You should have been intelligent not to report but to wait and study the situation and may be could have discussed with me, as you know me very well. Now damage control has already taken place and there is no solution unless the Director sends you a reply or takes action. Stephen Dias’ Retd Scientist of NIO Date: 5.8.2014
