PANJIM: Social activist Adv Aires Rodrigues on Friday urged the Goa office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate the entire expenditure incurred and the procedure followed in holding that gala swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister and his eight Cabinet ministers held on March 28, at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Bambolim.
In a complaint submitted to the CAG of Goa, Rodrigues has stated that responsibility needs to be fixed on those responsible for this colossal waste of public funds. He along with his complaint has submitted a copy of the documents obtained by him under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the General Administration Department (FAD) at the Secretariat to the effect that the swearing-in ceremony has cost the taxpayers a whopping Rs 5.59 crore.
Alleging that there was no transparency and accountability whatsoever in the holding of that event, Rodrigues has further stated that the entire process of appointing the event management company M/s Vinsan Graphics was apparently stage-managed and a mere eye-wash.
Stating that the public have to benefit on all money spent by the State, he has stated that the State government has a lot to explain on what benefit was it to the people of Goa on a 18-minute event.
Rodrigues has also drawn the attention of the CAG that taxpayers’ money recklessly drained while poor beneficiaries of social welfare schemes have not received their monthly dole for the last five months on account of the State coffers being empty.
