PORVORIM: Pointing to Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s inability in handling the portfolio, the Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, castigating the Minister, told him to switch over the department. “Last time on the floor of the House I had called you incompetent, what should I call you know….I think you should hand over tourism department to someone else…,” Rane said on Monday expressing his complete displeasure over Tourism Department’s apathy towards repair of tourist cottages at Kerim in Sattari taluka. Rane told the State Assembly that the Minister, during the Budget session, in March had assured to repair and develop these cottages. However, in the last four months no work has been initiated. “You make promises on the floor of the House but are not able to fulfill them. You are misguiding the House,” he said. The former Assembly speaker lashed out at the Tourism Minister, claiming that despite a site inspection being undertaken in 2012, government took no steps to ensure that the dilapitated cottages are repaired and given on operation. Rane even countered Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who sarcastically stated that ‘unplanned development ends up into a failure’. “Those tourist cottages were constructed in 2002, a project undertaken by the then BJP government…. it was unplanned development by you (BJP),” the senior congress leader commented. Trying to defend, Parulekar said the tourism department is in process of transferring land to Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., (Special Purpose Vehicle for undertaking tourism promotion), for developing the area as hinterland tourism and water sports. “The renovation of the cottages would be done through GSIDC. We are waiting for cabinet approval to transfer the land,” he said. Unsatisfied with the reply Rane said that since GTDC is part of tourism, there won’t be requirement for any cabinet approval. “Minister is misguiding the House. Why cabinet approval is required to repair or renovate the cottages?” he questioned. The issue was finally settled after Chief Minister assured to personally look into the project development.
