The decision of the Goa government to accept the recommendations of the Lokayukta to ask the Anti Corruption Bureau to probe the beach Cleaning scam, is a step in the right direction. The scam has hung an albatross around the neck of the government and this will be an opportunity to clean the stables as it were.
It may be recalled that the then Director of Tourism Ameya Abhyankar had proposed that the beach cleaning contract be terminated for not fulfilling major conditions of the tender. In his note Mr Abhyankar, while giving detailed reasons, had suggested that the department go in for a fresh tender. R K Srivastava, then tourism secretary and later the Chief Secretary had agreed with Mr Abhyankar and sent the file to the Tourism Minister Mr Dilip Parulekar. The minister asked the issue to be placed before the State-Level Monitoring Committee directed that an opportunity of hearing be given to the contractor “in fulfilment of the principles of natural justice”.
Incidentally Tourism Director Abhaynkar was removed within a day of sending his recommendations. The Goa Government in September 2014 awarded the contract of Comprehensive Management of cleaning the beaches of North Goa to Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt Ltd., Mumbai at an annual cost of Rs.7.51 crores and the cleaning of south Goa beaches to Ram Cleansers & Developers Pvt. Ltd. at a cost of Rs 7.04 crores. Both entities belong to one Manish Mohata.
The Lokayukta has observed that the contractor had not deployed the minimum labour required and had not supplied the required number of dustbins. Lokayukta also stated that the then Tourism Minister had shown indulgence and favouritism and the contractor was allowed to continue work beyond first 15 months in spite of unsatisfactory nature of work.
The Lokayukta’s indications are clear: “The ACB should reopen the investigation particularly keeping in view the possibility of conspiracy and any kickback”.
It does appear that the government is serious about getting to the bottom of this scam, to send a message of probity and transparency since the controversy has been long drawn out and messy. It is important that this issue is closed and the guilty brought to book. The cleanup of the department must begin with a genuine probe so that the critical task of beach cleaning can indeed be handled and monitored professionally.
This assumes immense significance because unclean beaches are the first visual manifestation of all that is wrong with Goa’s tourism management. It is these visuals which tourists take away, tweet and post. And everything else that Goa does to make the land more welcome to tourists gets offset with just one picture of garbage and filth on Goa’s beaches.
While the probe is going on, a professional agency with clear cut deliverables should be appointed, not just to handle beaches but the outer beach roads as well. This should seen as the top priority and must be backed and pushed by all stakeholders including the coastal panchayats.
As far as the beach cleaning scam is concerned, the government should take an early decision to formally hand over the probe, notify the decision and ensure that it is completed in a time bound manner.
