The Goa Lokayukta Justice P.K. Misra has directed that notice be issued to Goa’s Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar seeking his comments in the complaints on the alleged multi-crore beach cleaning scam.
After holding a preliminary inquiry over the last fortnight, the Lokayukta by a written order has now decided to conduct a detailed in-depth investigation into the complaints alleging that the beach cleaning tender was a mega scam. The Lokayukta has also directed the Goa Government to take an appropriate decision within six weeks on the fate of the current beach cleaning contract based on the material available and the notes of different authorities pertaining to the performance of the beach cleaning contractors. Attention of the Lokayukta was drawn that the then Director of Tourism Mr. Ameya Abhyankar on 11th December last year had proposed that the current beach cleaning contract be terminated for not fulfilling major conditions of the tender. 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. In the complaint to the Vigilance department on 18th May last year, it was sought that a F.I.R be registered against Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, the beach cleaning contractor Manish Mohata and Avdhoot Parrikar the brother of Manohar Parrikar amongst others in connection with the alleged multi-crore scam in the beach cleaning tender. While demanding a meticulous probe into the role of Avdhoot Parrikar in the beach cleaning scam, it was stated that though the name of Avdhoot Parrikar did not figure anywhere in the official papers, he had been the man behind the scene attending meetings between the beach cleaning contractors and government officials, complete details of which were also given to the Vigilance department. On interrogation by the Vigilance department, the then Director of Tourism Nikhil Desai conceded to having met Avdhoot Parrikar at his Porvorim Residence ‘Radhakrishna’ and that Avdhoot Parrikar had also met him twice in his office. The Vigilance department however did not summon Avdhoot Parrikar for recording of his statement. It may be recalled that in September 2014 while Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister and Nikhil Desai the Director of Tourism, the Goa Government 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. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com