Team Herald

PANJIM: Minister for Tourism Manohar Ajgaonkar has dared the Congress to approach the judiciary if it finds scam in the beach cleaning contract while vehemently denying all the allegations leveled by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar. 

He also said that government is in the process of finalising a beach cleaning agency. Ironically, Ajgaonkar, on June 30, had stated that a contractor would be appointed within a month’s time. 

“There is nothing illegal about the continuation of the agency’s services (Drishti) as the works carried out are to the satisfaction of the Department of Tourism and State Government. The Congress is no judge on the worth and works carried out by the beach cleaning agency. If anyone feels there is corruption and illegalities they are free to approach the courts of law and prove it,” he said referring to remarks made by Chodankar. 

He said the government has extended Drishti’s contract several times and paid them accordingly for their services which no other agency or local contractors would have been able to execute. 

“The government can explore various options for beach cleaning if they wish to as demanded by the Opposition,” the minister maintained while slamming the Congress for their habit of levelling ‘baseless allegations.’ 

The Tourism Minister said that he was surprised over the statements made by Chodankar misguiding the general public and was even more surprised that the latter has made statements days after a detailed reply was tabled on the floor of the House in the recently concluded Monsoon Session of the Assembly. 

“Even the Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat was convinced by the reply. We are following the entire procedure of tendering for selecting a beach cleaning agency and it is in the final stages,” he added.

Even with regards to giving extensions to the agency for beach cleaning, Ajgaonkar said that orders were given based on the Goa Financial Rules (GFR) 184 and on taking all financial approvals. 

On Monday, Drishti had released a press statement warning the Congress that it would approach the court if the allegations are not withdrawn. It had also stated that financial strain owing to delayed payment has not hampered their service towards beach cleaning or lifeguarding. 

Chodankar, in his tweet, has dared Drishti to approach the court against him.