PANJIM: The Directorate of Vigilance has submitted its report to the State government after examining the complaint that was filed by Adv Aires Rodrigues over alleged exorbitant expenditure incurred and serious procedural lapses in holding that gala swearing-in-ceremony of Chief Minister and his eight Cabinet Ministers held on March 28 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Bambolim.
In his complaint to the Director of Vigilance on 6th June, Adv Rodrigues had submitted a copy of the documents obtained by him under the RTI Act from the General Administration Department (GAD) to the effect that the 18-minute swearing-in ceremony cost the taxpayers a whopping Rs 5,59,25,805.
Adv Rodrigues also gave a copy of documents obtained by him from the GTDC to the effect that a further whopping amount of Rs 72,21.972 was spent on the 134 vehicles hired for VIPs and their security attending that swearing in ceremony.
Adv Rodrigues in his complaint also stated that an investigation by the Vigilance department needs to fix responsibility on those responsible for this colossal waste of public funds and loss to the exchequer on account of the inflated bills and to bring the guilty to book.
Following the complaint, the Vigilance department asked for reports from the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), GAD and the protocol departments. The ACB said that there was no corruption and it was an administrative misdemeanour.
The Protocol department stated that the vehicle was hired based upon the requirement given by the security section of Goa police and considering the VVIPs like the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of various States attending the swearing-in ceremony.
However, the GAD in its reply stated that it selected the event management agency as per the empanelled list given by the department of information and publicity and paucity of time. But later the State Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval to it.
But the Vigilance department has observed that there were lapses in the process vis-a-vis rules and that the GAD failed to take approval from the finance department. Also, it observed that there were lapses in the reasonability of rates and has recommended that there should be standard prescribed rates in the future.
The Vigilance department has also left it to the government to either condole the lapses or to investigate the matter further.
