TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly that the government will blacklist all those empanelled agencies, who fail to apply for tenders repeatedly after Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte raised the issue on the floor of the House on Monday.
The bidding process for Carnival and Food and Cultural festivals came under scrutiny with Khaunte seeking an explanation as to why only two out of seven empanelled agencies had applied for the tender floated to host Carnival and Food and Cultural festivals in the State.
“I would like to know whether these agencies were questioned as to why they did not bid, though it was an open tender?” he questioned.
Parrikar, admitting that even though the agencies are empanelled, government has no authority to question as to why they had not applied for particular tender. But he warned: “If these things happen again and again, then in future, Tourism Department can blacklist those agencies,” he said.
Earlier, Khaunte alleged government favouritism towards Vinsan Graphics, a Vasco-based agency, which was given the contract to host Carnival and the Food and Cultural Festival 2013.
The Porvorim MLA told the State Legislative Assembly that “he has enough documents to prove wrong doings in awarding contract to the agency,” and alleged that the same agency has been given the contracts time and again by the State government.
“It has been noted that the same agency has been awarded the contract to host Carnival every year. I want to know why other agencies were sidelined for the contract?” he questioned during Question Hour.
According to the reply, Vinsan was sanctioned Rs 3.48 crore by government for hosting Carnival and Food and Cultural Festival, for which it spent Rs 3.30 crore. The Porvorim MLA said that government has no records about the balance amount.
Defending the decision of the government, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar claimed that the entire process of tendering was transparent. “It was a global tender, open to everyone,” he said.
Parulekar also dared the Khaunte to place papers on the Table of the House to prove favouritism to which Khaunte agreed.
The reply tabled in the House reveals that Rs 10 lakh was spent on the King Momo float parade held on February 9, in Panjim, while Rs 68 lakh were spent on the food festival. Also, Rs six lakh was spent on 20 minutes firework show.
Speaking during Question Hour, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral congratulated the government for what they called ‘hosting a world class Carnival’, which attracted many tourists.
