TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The BJP Saturday said that for the past three years the State had not received any financial assistance from the Centre for tourism infrastructure since the previous government did not submit utilisation certificates on funds received for various tourism projects.
“We have to pay back some Rs 14.5 crore and only then will the Centre fund projects worth almost Rs 450 crore,” GTDC chairperson Nilesh Cabral told media Saturday.
“Money had been received for seven to eight projects, but no work was done and there is no money in the government treasury for the work,” he informed, adding that they have dropped some two or three projects and would complete the balance four.
“We will not receive even a single rupee funding for tourism projects for Goa till we pay back Rs 14.5 crore from the state exchequer to the Centre,” GTDC MD, Nikhil Dessai, disclosed.
Cabral said that they would be meeting the chief minister on Monday to finalise this issue. He said that the government is contemplating dropping projects like the mini-convention centre, Goa Haath and a skywalk opposite the Patto Paryatan Bhavan as these projects were not feasible and had complications.
