PANJIM: The State Tourism Department has finally floated a tender to hire a new agency for beach cleaning contract in the State.
The agency will be required to offer a wide range of services for cleaning of the various beaches in Goa including collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of garbage etc for a period of five years.
Five years ago, in October 2019, the department had awarded the beach cleaning contract to Bengaluru-based firm Karnataka Commercial and Industrial Corporation (KCIC) Pvt Ltd. KCIC’s contract with tourism dept had ended in mid 2023, but they were given extension till such time that a new agency is appointed.
According to the details available on e-tender website www.eprocure.goa.gov.in, the last date of submission of the duly filled technical bid and the financial bid is on September 13, 2024.
The KCIC was tasked with carrying out beach-cleaning services across major 37 beaches in the state. However, in January this year, the tourism stakeholders, including shack owners, had complained of beach cleaning standard dropping and the contractor allegedly not being able to cope up with the pace of discarding of garbage on coastline by tourists visiting the state.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had informed the State Assembly in July this year that the tourism department had received permission from the finance department for a beach safety tender.
