TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chairman and Managing Director of M/s Drishti Group, Rajiv Somani, broke his silence over the on-going impasse between the Tourism Ministry and Drishti Special Response Services (DSRS) saying, “Lifeguards do not seem to be a priority for the Tourism Department anymore and it looks like we are unwanted, leaving us with no other option but to leave.”
Somani, in an exclusive interview to Herald on Saturday said, “The Tourism Ministry owes us Rs 5.5 crore for the services rendered by us after our original contract ended in mid-June this year. We have invested our own money towards procuring equipment for lifesaving which the Tourism Department should have done and we have taken loans from banks to pay the salaries of our lifeguards.”
He said, “Whether the government has the money or not is a different issue but we don’t understand why our bills aren’t being processed, increments not being given to the lifeguards as promised and why the tenders are not being re-issued.”
“It appears that our issues are not a priority any more, our payments are not a priority, equipment for lifesaving is not a priority so what is the point in being here?” asked a perplexed Somani.
The DSRS has made up its mind to quit Goa next week and has strongly turned down a third extension given till October 31, 2013 to provide lifeguard services along Goa’s beach belt.
While the first extension was given from June 15 to July 31, 2013, the second was effective till September 30, the third extension has been given till October 31, 2013.
The lifeguard and water patrol service provider seems to be angered over the U-turn by the Tourism Department which had promised a 10 per cent increment for lifeguards in the first and second extension but has withdrawn this provision in the third extension 2013.
The DSRS has rejected the third extension saying that there is no question of continuing in Goa if the government does not resolve all its issues immediately.
The issues pertain to the 10 per cent increment for lifeguards, payment for hiring of equipment and processing of all its bills.
We are told that more than 50 letters have been written to the Tourism Department but there has been no response to any of the communiqués.
The CMD of Drishti Group said he was saddened over the fact that DSRS will have to leave Goa at a time when the tourism season begins.
Till date lives of more than 1600 tourists have been saved by DSRS lifeguards during the last five years. Lives of not only tourists but fishermen, Ganesh devotees during immersions and women attacked on the beach after dark have been saved..
