SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: The beach cleaning controversy does not seem to die down even after the government has decided to terminate the contract.
Reacting to a series of exposes in Herald, and with tough questions asked by the opposition, the government was forced to call curtains on the issue with the department issuing notice of termination of contract.
However, Herald has further learnt that the contractors – Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt Ltd and Ram Cleansers & Developers Pvt were paid despite the contract expiring on December 14, 2015.
“Yes the contractors have been paid upto March 2016,” said Tourism Director Sanjiv Desai. Speaking to Herald he said the remaining payment from April till now has been held back as per the directions
of the Lokayukta.
Asked why the payment was cleared when the contract was up for renewal in December, he replied, “the contract is for five years which is renewable after every 15 months.”
However, contrary to what the director says Herald understands the contract is renewable after 15 months only if work is being carried out satisfactorily – in this case each time the contractor has received “C” Grade for his work.
Abhayankar shunted for writing truth?
The contractors payments were cleared despite the fact that the former Tourism Director Ameya Abhayankar clearly asking the contract to be discontinued on December 12, 2016.
However, while contractors remained, Abhayankar was shown the door.
“Deductions in payments alone cannot be solution to the larger problem of non-fulfilment of services envisaged in the tender document,” Abhayankar wrote in his noting.
Further, he had, “it appears that major conditions of the tender have not been fulfilled by the contractor and hence it would be in the fitness of things to terminate the present contract and go for a fresh tender.
On the payments pending to the contractor, Abhayankar said, “Since the matter has to be decided by the monitoring committee, the same may be placed before it for consideration and orders/decision. It would also be advisable to refer this file to the FD (Finance Department) for examination.”
Two days later the Principal Secretary Tourism also expressed similar sentiments and asked for orders for discontinuing of contract.
But sadly, Abhayankar was transferred from Tourism and a month later the Tourism Minister asked the monitoring committee to decide on the matter.
He also asked for a fair hearing be given to the contractors for giving their say.
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Contract continued due to
peak tourism season: Minister
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said that the payments were cleared to the contractors and were allowed to continue despite contracts due for renewals only due to peak season.
“The contract would be renewed based on the recommendation of the Monitoring committee. The Monitoring committee was still to decide on the matter of recommendation for renewal and since the tourist season was ongoing and it would be difficult to maintain the cleanliness of the beaches, the Monitoring Committee therefore further instructed the beach cleaning contractors to continue the work of cleaning the beaches till the renewal of the contract is decided.”
