PANJIM: A Goa based activist, Advino Fernandes, running an NGO appears to have raised the hackles of the tourism department by alleging that full payments were made for beach cleaning activities even though much of the work was not completed by the contractors
Fernandes’ NGO, Human Rights Defenders, has procured a series of documents which he claims proves that payments were made even though certain deliverables, like constructing 16 composting pits and 16 segregation units, were not met.
Reacting to the allegations, the Tourism Department has issued a press release addressed to ‘Whomsoever this may concern’, calling the allegations, false misleading and an attempt to malign the beach cleaning initiative of the government. The release stated that no payments have been made where terms and conditions of the contract have not been complied with. See box)
The NGO has demanded reimbursement of over Rs two crores from the Mumbai-based Ram Engineering & Construction and Bhumika Transport agencies, for failing to implement the cleanliness project as per the tender policy.
“The contractors have not constructed 16 composting pits and 16 segregation units, each of which costs Rs one crores. It is in violation of the policy rules,” NGO President Advino Fernandes told a press conference on Tuesday.
He further alleged that during the first five months till January 2015, the contractors placed merely 57 dustbins out of a total 1420 – each costing Rs 4,500, assured in the tender document. While it also failed to provide 10 portable cabins across the beaches, which once again points out violation of the contract. Each portable cabin is valued at Rs 18 lakhs.
Despite blatant contract breach and no work review being carried out before releasing payments, Fernandes claimed, tourism department has been releasing full amount to the contractors.
“Due to violations of the conditions of the tender documents, we object to the administration charges of Rs 5.20 crore per year charged by the contractors,” he said demanding government reimburse the extra Rs 2.46 crore approx from the contractors paid between September 2014 to January 2015. “Make necessary deductions to pending bills from February-April 2015.”
As per the RTI documents circulated to the media, department has been making full payment for 480 labourers per month while the fact remains the contractors hired 181 workers in December 2014, 210 in January 2015 and 88 workers in February 2015.
Similarly, though tractors are not permitted on the beaches, tourism department continuous to shell out Rs 17,760 per day. “
“The health cards of all labourers are not submitted to the department and neither both agencies are registered with the labour department. They are not following any safety precautions,” the NGO President said referring to yet another irregularity in the functioning of the beach cleaning project.
“….extra money is released to the contractors after a certification from Deputy Director (Tourism) stating the work is satisfactory. This forces us to believe corruption within the department,” Fernandes reiterated demanding quick action against continuing the work with the agencies and bringing corrupt officials to task.
