Lokayukta is required to weed out the rot in the most corrupt government
in Goa
By Nisser Dias
nisserdias at gmail.com
SMS to 9422437029
Prime minister Manmohan Singh led UPA government has finally relented to
the demands of 74 year old Gandhian Anna Hazare and his team to draft
the Jan Lokpal Bill as per their satisfaction so as to bring all and
sundry under its ambit. Anna’s draft was discussed in both houses of the
parliament and passed unanimously. The question before us was why were
the Parliamentarians hesitant to incorporate the clauses recommended by
the Anna team, was it because many of them have skeletons in their closet?
Nevertheless Anna through his 12 days fast brought not only the Union
government to its knees but even the opposition to agree to his point of
view. He has clearly said that he suspending the fast till such time as
the central government passes the Bill in 30 days time.
Now let us take the instance of Goa Lok Ayukta Bill, though it was
passed in the Goa Legislative Assembly it is yet to become an Act. Does
our government or rather successive government have an answer. While
other states already have their Lok Ayukta in place, Goa’s Bill has been
making rendezvous between Raj Bhavan and the Government in power.
Recently Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar boasted that if he comes to
power he will constitute Lok Ayukta within three months. This could be
wishful thinking but then looking back why did he not feel the need
while he was in power. Even then he used to talk about alleged
corruption by the Congress legislators. Parrikar outburst is not for the
good of administration or to curb corruption but only to cash on the
mood of the people at the moment hoping to translate it into votes. The
very intention is unclean. And if at all he succeeds, knowing Parrikar’s
way of functioning, which is ‘know it all’ and arrogance he is very
likely to constitute LokAyuta and its members of his choice. The fact
remains that politicians do not favour Lok Ayukta because they are
sought to be made accountable for their acts of commission and omission.
For example somewhere in 2008, the High Court in a judgment on a Public
Interest Litigation filed by a spirited activist Leonardo E Lobo ordered
demolition of the sunset-bays built at Baina beach in violation of
Coastal Regulations Zone norms for viewing sunset by GSUDA at the cost
of more than Rs. one crore. The order also directed that the entire cost
be recovered from the government employees serving in the agency.
However Urban Development minister Joaquim Alemao had ordered the
construction of the same but no law so far can hold him responsible.
Similar is the case with Rs. 7.28 crores spent on Sonsoddo garbage
treatment plant.
Thought Comptroller and Auditor General of India had noted that GSUDA’s
haste is awarding the contract to Hyquip in 2006 prevented more
technically competent agencies from setting up solid waste management
plant at Sonsoddo leading to waste of resources. CAG had even observed
that GSUDA did not process Hyquip’s pre-qualification tender. Central
Pollution Control Board had exposed the consultant’s lie that in-vessel
composting technology had been introduced in India. The then chief
secretary had advised scrapping of the project based on finance and
vigilance departments reports of irregularities, yet GSUDA pursued the
tender after increasing the performance guarantee, which the company
failed to furnish. But Urban Development minister Joaquim Alemao went
ahead with the unknown credentials knowing very well that he cannot be
held accountable for waste of public fund even though people know very
well where the exchequer’s money were diverted, the junior Alemao knew
that under the present laws he could not be held accountable. That is
the reason that we need to constitute Lokayukta so that corrupt
politicians be not only be indicted but arrested and the loss caused to
the exchequer be recovered from their family. And now he wants to
introduce his son into politics to assist him in the loot and plunder of
Goa.
Very recently opposition leader Manohar Parrikar has come out strongly
against PWD minister Churchill Alemao for the sub-standard roads which
have been washed away in the rains. Everybody knows the reason why the
roads are getting washed away but who will hold the minister
accountable. As of today he is attending Valankanni feast, praying to
the divine powers to absolve him of his sins.
These are just some examples, infact all the ministers in the Digambar
Kamat government and even those who were stripped are involved in
corrupt practices. Be it the high security number plates, allotment of
land for SEZ, land scam, PPP projects in the Health department, illegal
mining, excise scam the list can go on. But no law in the country can
hold them responsible and accountable. Of course only if they threaten
to destabilize the government then only they are threatened with raids,
exposure and arrest. Otherwise the principle of the Union and the state
governments is loot and let’s loot together.
Jan Lokpal Bill and Loyakuta are like a Damocles sword which will hang
over the heads of corrupt politicians. And that is the reason that the
Congress led government at the Centre as well in the state of Goa are
hesitant to introduce a strong Bill and constitute Lokayukta here. The
very fact that chief minister Digambar Kamat has said that Lokayuta will
require a re-look is an indication that he is bargaining for time to end
his tenure and then let someone else bear the headache.
In Goa too people lent support to anti-crusader Anna Hazare’s fast unto
to death through rallies, protests and other forms to bring the Union
government to its knees to include his three recommendation in the Jan
Lokpal Bill. However that is not enough, if the people of this state
want the government be it the current or the one that is going to
elected very soon constitute a strong Lokayuta then we should be ready
to repeat Anna’s act here otherwise we will continue to live in the same
rut that we are living in. (ENDS)
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First published in Gomantak Times, Goa - September 8, 2011
