PANJIM: Recommending a Vigilance probe into the Siolim Jetty project earlier this week, Water Resource Minister Vinod Palyekar has cast serious aspersions over his own department officials for clearing such a huge project without a proper study.
The three-and-half page note, a copy of which is with Herald, expresses surprise over the handling of the entire project right from the planning and tendering to its execution.
“…the files of project do not have any plans or permissions from CRZ authorities despite an expert committee member making a strong observation against the project. I am surprised how WRD could undertake a project involving such a huge amount from public exchequer without study and necessary permissions,” Palyekar noted, reacting to the Herald expose on illegalities in the project.
Further Palyekar says that he was constrained to make such observations as the project of such huge magnitude was taken up without the required study resulting in the National Green Tribunal granting a stay on the project, thereby causing a huge loss to the exchequer.
Palyekar has squarely blamed Executive Engineer P B Badami for the episode. “It is interesting to note how Badami apparently has not conducted or done required ground work before starting such a project. It clearly looks like the said EE P B Badami has acted in haste and as a matter of fact undue haste resulting in stoppage of project,” he said.
Palyekar further said that the department itself was not sure what it wanted to construct at the site as there were no plans on the file.
“It is interesting to note that the plans for the project are not placed in the file pertaining to the project which clearly appears that the WRD was not sure what was being constructed through the contractor,” he alleges.
The minister observed that there was not only financial irregularity but even the project which was undertaken was in a haphazard manner and factually looking at the site conditions, “I am of the opinion that the matter requires to be thoroughly investigated by the Vigilance.”
Palyekar wants the Vigilance Department to ascertain the quantum of work done and work released to the contractor. “Responsibilities in this matter are required to be fixed as public exchequer should not be misused,” he said.
Herald through a three-part series on June 9, June 10 and June 11 unearthed the irregularities in the project through RTI procured documents. Herald also exposed how a Rs 8 cr estimated project was tendered for Rs 13 cr.
