Team Herald
MARGAO: Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for claiming to be a party with a difference, the Margao Block Congress Committee highlighted that the saffron party is embroiled in numerous scams and does not even spare the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in siphoning off public funds.
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Margao Congress leader Savio Coutinho revealed details of a fraudulent project linked to the Prime Minister’s visit in February 2024
as part of the Viksit Bharat/IEW programme.
Speaking at a press conference, Coutinho presented documents obtained from the Public Works Department (PWD) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which he claimed showed how the information was provided only after multiple RTI applications
and appeals.
“Over Rs 120 crore were claimed to have been spent on various works executed by the PWD in Margao and surrounding constituencies, but some of these projects had no connection whatsoever to the Prime Minister’s visit or the IEW programme,”
alleged Coutinho.
One of the most glaring examples he cited was a project “Improvement of Infrastructure around KTC Bus Stand”, which allegedly cost Rs 95 lakh. This work, which was scheduled to be completed between January 30, 2024, and February 8, 2024, was described by Coutinho as a blatant fraud against the public exchequer.
He argued that the logistics of completing such work, with 16 JCBs and 16 tipper trucks working simultaneously, were highly improbable, particularly given the limited space and scope for such operations at the KTC bus stand.
Moreover, other works like providing hot mix carpet for the bus stand and depot area were ongoing at the same time, he
pointed out.
“Given that the shamiana and barricades were in place from February 4-5, and the only activities happening then were the rehearsal parade with the machinery and workers, it seems that the only real work done was the preparation and removal of the infrastructure for the Prime Minister’s final parade on February 6,”
Coutinho commented.
The Congress Party has now demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant order an inquiry into these alleged fraudulent activities. “Time and again, we hear about the BJP government’s inflated claims of spending hundreds of crore on development works, but in reality, the visible progress never corresponds to the funds spent,” Coutinho remarked.
The Margao Block Congress has warned of legal action should the government fail to investigate these allegations and take necessary corrective measures.
