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MAPUSA: Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy in presence of Union Minister Shripad Naik, Port Minister Michael Lobo and GTDC Chairman Dayanand Sopte inaugurated the newly beautified tourism infrastructure including pathway, illumination etc. at Aguada Fort jail, on Saturday.
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Informing that the government has dropped the proposal of giving the Aguada Jail to Drishti, Ports Minister Michael Lobo said,” I had raised my objection in the Cabinet for the proposal of giving the lower fort that is the Aguada Fort to Drishti for Rs 1.20 crore for a year which is a fraud. This monument for which our ancestors have given their lives and our freedom fighters fought the freedom struggle. This jail is historical and cannot be privatised and this was my submission in the Cabinet. However, my submission was kept aside but last night I received a call from the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant informing that the proposal is dropped.”
“People do not want any historical monument to be privatised. Light show, maintenance, security, can be outsourced. However, the monument cannot be privatised. The monument should remain with the government and preserved for the next generation. The government has spent taxpayers’ money for its beautification and if it is privatised then Goans will have to pay to enter into the jail. This is our culture and heritage which needs to be protected,” the Minister said.
Lobo also pointed out that inquiry should be done on how the company has come up with this figure of Rs 1.20 crore and who was supposed to get the kickback.
Lobo further questioned if Drishti is a son-in-law of the government that everything should be outsourced to Drishti.
“Beach cleaning was given to Drishti which turned into a scam but nobody wants to inquire about it,” Lobo said.
