PANJIM: Goa Lokayukta Justice (retired) PK Misra on Wednesday concluded hearing into the complaint filed by Goa Forward Party (GFP) alleging irregularities into the financial support scheme offered to building and other construction workers (BOCW) during COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lokayukta has reserved the matter for final order on September 9.
GFP vice president Durgadas Kamat in a complaint filed before Lokayukta on June 5 had charged that an amount of over Rs 13 crore has been disbursed to 15,490 BJP workers cum ‘so called’ construction workers and labourers during the pandemic.
Speaking to media persons post hearing, Kamat said the department in the affidavit submitted to Lokayukta has provided incomplete and vague information. He said that the Ombudsman body has reserved the matter for order on September 9.
The State Labour Department during the hearing held on July 2 had admitted that the financial support meant for BOCW has been availed by several bogus beneficiaries and the re-verification process has started. It had also said that money has been recovered from the identified bogus beneficiaries.
The Lokayukta while admitting the case had said there are ‘sufficient’ and ‘reasonable’ grounds to investigate the ‘Labour Gate Scam’.
