SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: Approximately Rs 5 cr of public money is going down the Chapora River, as the Water Resources Department (WRD) threw caution to wind, clearing the Siolim Jetty project. Herald now learns that the Finance Department had clearly objected to the project but was bypassed. The project, estimated to cost Rs 16 cr, was midway to completion when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered a permanent stay citing ‘illegalities’.
Herald was first expose the illegalities in July 2016 reporting that the project was taken up sans proper Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) or a study by NIO or required permissions. Now, further investigations have revealed that the WRD had overlooked the Finance Department’s observation on the tendering process.
Sources revealed that the WRD, which was held by then minister Dayanand Mandrekar, had gone ahead with the project despite the Finance Department’s notings that only two contractors had bid for the multi-crore project. “The project was taken up despite FD’s negative noting,” sources reveal. The contract was awarded to Bagkiya Construction Private Limited.
New WRD minister Vinod Paliencar, who led the agitation against the project when he was a panch of Siolim panchayat, admitted there were gross irregularities. “We have started dismantling the jetty after the NGT order,” he said, adding, “Almost Rs 4 to 5 crore worth work has been carried out by the contractors which has gone down the drain.”
Asked what will be his next step, Paliencar said, “I am initiating an inquiry, I have already taken the files in my custody and also asked for a Vigilance team, which will be handed over the case,” Paliencar said.
Paliencar, who defeated Mandrekar in the polls, said, “Meanwhile we are also studying the file and prima facie we feel there are lot of irregularities”.
He noted that there was no EIA conducted, no NIO study besides no proper permissions were taken, which he said was a waste of public money. “I think this case needs to be investigated thoroughly by Vigilance Department,” he said.
Expressing shock at the progress of project, he said, “Surprisingly, the work of Rs 16 cr jetty was started on permission for a bundh. I am told now that work amounting to Rs 4.7 cr has been completed.”
Herald had exposed that the construction of the jetty was being carried out without even an NOC from the panchayat. Locals were up in the arms as they suspected the illegal construction at a brisk pace was being done to shift offshore casinos from River Mandovi.
Documents obtained under Right to Information reveal that Mandrekar had proposed repairs of the bundh connecting the Siolim fish market, which was also sanctioned by the department, but instead of a bundh, the work of the jetty has been taken up.
Documents also reveal that the Siolim-Marna Panchayat had resolved to allow the beautification work of the bundh, not jetty, provided an NOC was taken from the panchayat.
However, sources say that no NOC has been taken from the panchayat even as work was started.
Strangely, following a letter from Mandrekar for beautification of the riverfront and repair of bundh on March 10, 2015, within three days an inspection was carried out and a report was submitted by Executive Engineer P B Badami.
