THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President (GPCC) Girish Chodankar has alleged that the “biased” decision of the Directorate of Fisheries to award the tender of the Aqua Goa Mega Fish Festival is an open and shut case of blatant corruption.
He has demanded that the Aqua Festival be canceled and thorough inquiry be conducted in the matter.
Chodankar alleged that the contract has been awarded despite another agency quoting much lower amount. “This is an open and shut case of corruption with the blessings of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant,” he said.
He alleged that the Fisheries Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues “is completely immersed in a pool of corruption.”
The Congress has lodged a complaint to this effect with the Chief Secretary/Chief Vigilance Officer demanding vigilance inquiry and has asked the chief secretary to stop this event for “gross violations” of government guidelines and “irregularities” in the tender.
“The tender selection committee headed by the Director of Fisheries Dr Sharmila Monteiro comprised of four other members from the department who have no knowledge of creative designs and art. It is mandatory to have a person who is an expert and qualified in fine arts, graphic designs or architecture to evaluate creative presentations,” Chodankar said.
“The BJP government is all out to loot the State treasury to patronise the party cadre. The government is yet to come clean on the supply of formalin laced fish in the market, with consumers still feeling insecure to buy the fish available in the market. The Government has failed to set up a laboratory to test the fish. The BJP Government has no money to pay to the Self Help Groups, Vocational Teachers, Social Welfare Scheme beneficiaries, and contractors of various works. But the Government is spending lavishly on the so called promotional events which ultimately turnout to be big failures,” Chodankar said.
