PANJIM: Two days ago the State government, in an austerity measure, announced it has banned foreign tours of all its ministers and officers till the Budget and instead asked all the departments to concentrate on revenue-generating activities. On the other hand it is paying huge amounts to private players, mostly the saffron party’s friends, or call it friends of BJP, in terms of rent for their premises hired by government departments.
To please these so-called friends of BJP the State is paying a sum of Rs 4.89 cr monthly for the rented premises, which work out to 58.68 cr annually.
The biggest beneficiary of this government’s largesse is Nilesh Amonkar, who owns the building Spaces as the State is paying him a monthly rent of Rs 44,43,156 which amounts to be Rs 5.33 cr annually.
Information available with Herald reveals that Spaces houses the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (1030 sq mts), Commercial Taxes Department (460 sq mts), Town & Country Planning Department (186.5 sq mt), and District and Sessions Court (2425 sq mt).
Similarly, Miles High building owner is another beneficiary of this government largesse. The State is paying a rent of Rs 15.38 lakh per month (Rs 1.46 cr annually) for around 400 sq metres of office space in this building. Ironically, SAG was shifted here with the aim to host the Lusofonia Games in 2013 and it was a short term arrangement say sources. But even two years after the games have ended SAG isn’t moving to its old premises at Campal.
Another beneficiary of this government offer is the Alcon Group, as the Directorate of Information Technology and Info-Tech Corporation is housed in their building alongside NH17 at Porvorim. The state is paying huge rents of Rs 4.65 lakh and Rs 3.70 lakh for the two floors respectively (total Rs 1 cr annually).
While the State is bleeding money for these premises, the department employees are upset as the building does not have parking spaces and is around 10 kilometers away from the city.
Besides this, the Administrative Tribunal is paying a rent of Rs 1,15,000 for the premises in Dr Vaidya Hospital Building.
The Department of Co-operation pays a monthly rent to the Goa State Co-operative Bank Ltd amounting to Rs 3,06,000 towards office space in Sahakar Sankul, Patto. The department also pays an amount of Rs 51,000 to Goa Co-operative Marketing Federation towards 220 sq mts space utilised for the office of Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies in Panjim and another monthly amount of Rs 30,505 to Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao towards 370 sq mts of space utilised for office of assistant registrar of Co-operative Societies, Margao.
Apart from this, Herald investigations have revealed that the State is paying another Rs 15 lakh for renting small premises throughout the State.
When Herald questioned the officials at the Finance department on the issue they refused to comment.
A top officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “There are no rules framed by the government on leasing premises for departments and corporations. But they have to take finance concurrence before leasing any premises.”
The concurrence has been taken. But this willful decision to bleed the exchequer so that private builders close to the ruling forces can lease their spaces, will never get the concurrence of the people of Goa.
