PANJIM: Is the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s Britonna project a backdoor entry for a marina? Documents accessed by Herald indicate just this.
The State cabinet on Tuesday approved the selection of Ecotec Developers Pvt Ltd as concessionaire for the renovation/development of Britonna Residency under the PPP model. While the cabinet proposal does not provide details of the kind of renovation that is to be taken up at the place, the KPMG presentation to the media shows a minimum of 3-star accommodation with 120 room and jetty coming up at the place.
Giving details of the project, consultants KPMG said Britonna residency has been running into huge losses over the years and hence had to be developed on the PPP model. However, documents accessed by Herald state otherwise.
The proposal to the Finance Department, which went through GTDC had clearly mentioned a marina and yacht club at Britonna.
“The proposal of the department is for transfer of land admeasuring 14,800 sq mts belonging to the Department of Tourism, bearing survey no 52 (part II) situated in village panchayat, Penha de Franca, Bardez, Goa to the GTDC and to amalgamate with the earlier transferred of the same land admeasuring 19,874 sq mts for the purpose to lease it out to third party and for developing a marina, 5-star hotel and yacht club with the structure on it to GTDC Ltd,” says the Finance Department note signed by Under Secretary Finance. The note is counter signed by Additional Secretary Finance Michael D’Souza.
When Herald posed this question to the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar at a press conference whether a marina is set to come up at Britonna, his reply was, “No”.
GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral when contacted for his comments on the proposal said that it was an error. “We have no proposal for a marina, it must have been an error, must have been an old proposal,” he stated.
But when pointed out that the note from the Finance Department was dated May 31, 2016, less than four months ago, he said there could be an error. He, however, admitted there was a proposal for a yacht club at the GTDC property at Santa Monica Jetty but there is no proposal at Britonna.
However, at the presentation, KPMG clearly stated that the jetty and yacht club will come up at Britonna. KPMG said at the press conference that selected bidder will pay upfront fees of Rs 10.1 cr to the government besides revenue sharing of 5 percent on gross revenue per annum. KPMG officials said that will bring in a direct employment of 312.
“It will be a minimum accommodation of three star with a floating jetty for 20 yachts,” said the officials.
Meanwhile, Finance Department also questioned GTDC and Tourism Department on whether Rs 10.1 cr is the present value to GTDC for lease of term of 30 years economical and reasonable?
“Also, how has KPMG, calculated Rs 3,78,25,000 as upset price (lowest acceptable selling price)? Is there an assessment error by KPMG? Was it done properly? Should the Govt of Goa not get revenue share for having parted with the land to GTDC? What amount to Govt?” were questions raised by the Finance Department.
