The Tourism Department in 2013 had systematically suggested that the beach cleaning should be mechanised and not manual and accordingly the tender was re-floated in 2013 and the amount was increased from Rs 1.85 cr to Rs 14.70 cr.
However, two years down the line, the work is being carried out manually.
“It was discussed that mechanized cleaning of beach stretches by using machines which have been certified as safe should only be used on beach areas and only those machines which will not cause any damage to the micro libra or fauna. In case of mechanical failure of the machine, which should not exceed 48 hours, the contractor will have to get the entire stretch cleaned by deploying manual labourers for which the department shall not make any extra payment. Further, the department will also levy a penalty for non-deployment of mechanized beach cleaners as mandated by the tender document,” says the tender document of the Tourism department.
This has turned out to be a gigantic hoax and a clear violation of the tender. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s department increased the Beach Cleaning Contract from Rs 1.85 cr to Rs 14.70 crores on the condition that the cleaning would be mechanized and that the contractor would have to pay for engaging manual labour for more than 48 hours in case of mechanical failure. But mechanized cleaning has not started at all while payments are being made according to the revised rates. This IS the scam.
It is evident from visits to Betalbatim, Miramar and Colva that cleaning is done manually and there were no machines visible for mechanized cleaning.
“Unscientific methods or rather environmentally degrading methods have been adopted by the beach cleaning agency who are digging pits and dumping garbage, disposing garbage in vegetation, burning garbage in vegetation thereby damaging the vegetables, which is considered environmentally sensitive,” says a local, Agnelo D’Souza from Caranzalem.
Few labourers were seen manually cleaning the waste from the beaches only at few places.
A question to one of the labourers as to why the beaches were still dirty when they were clearing it, and the answer came in Hindi, “What can we do? We clear the place but still people throw waste anywhere.”
When the question was posed to one of the officials in the Tourism department, who did not want to be named for obvious reasons said, “There is no penalty on the contractor even though they are always flouting the rules.” Minister for Tourism, Dilip Parulekar, when contacted for his comment has said, “Tenders for the comprehensive management of cleanliness on the beaches of North and South Goa were floated in the most transparent manner and every care was taken to select the best agencies to do the work.”
“The best technology and the lowest financial quotation were selected and as such there has been no deviation from the standard tendering process in any manner. The beaches of Goa are cleaner than before and continue to be a major tourist attraction,” he said.
