TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has claimed that a former chief minister and minister were to benefit financially in a big way from the inflated tenders floated by the previous government to take up infrastructure works under the JICA project.
Speaking at Deussua-Chinchinim after inaugurating the premises of Anthonians Club of Deussua, Parrikar said he had managed to save a whopping Rs 40 crore, which was supposed to go into the pockets of the chief minister and the minister. “When I became the Chief Minister, I reviewed the tenders floated for the JICA projects. The tenders were inflated to the tune of Rs 40 crore. We managed to reduce the tender amount from Rs 349 crore to Rs 309 crore, saving Rs 40 crore. I don’t want to take names, but the inflated amount was supposed to go into the pockets of the chief minister and the minister,” Parrikar added.
Saying that Goa can be developed like any world standard area, the Chief Minister said the government will take care of plastic and garbage within the next 10 months.
Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva said the chief minister has promised to usher in the development of Velim constituency. He pointed out that the Chief Minister has assured to take care of the infrastructure tax to be paid to the government on account of the construction of the Chinchinim Panchayat ghar. “Velim will witness a host of development projects taking shape in the days ahead. Some of them will be launched before the election code of conduct comes into force”, he added.
