Panaji: Ports Minister and Calangute MLA Michael lobo Have opposed a proposal to hand over the operation and maintenance of the reconstructed Fort Aguada to a private one. agency,
When a proposal to appoint Drishti Lifesaving was placed before the cabinet, he objected. Lobo said he would oppose tooth and nail any move to give full possession of the renovated fort to a private agency, but he is not against appointing only a cleaning agency as well as conducting light and music shows. .
Lobo said CM Pramod Sawant was convinced by his explanation as to why the government should take control of the fort where Indian freedom fighters as well as those fighting for the liberation of Goa were kept. A part of the fort was used as a prison for political prisoners.
“On the objection raised by me, the motion was deferred for discussion to the next cabinet meeting. I also had the support of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar,” Lobo told reporters.
The government has spent around Rs 25 crore for the restoration and repair of the fort under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. It is expected to be opened to the public on December 19, when PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate it.
Lobo said that when the government has spent crores of rupees to renovate it, there is no point in giving it to any private party, especially to an agency involved in lifeguarding.
“Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is such a big corporation, why could it not deploy staff to operate the ticket counters?” He said the agency will pay Rs 1.2 crore annually to GTDC, which is a small part. “I smell a rat in this proposal. There is a mistake in extracting the amount to be paid by the agency appointed to the GTDC. If given the operation of the historic fort, I can pay Rs 1.2 crore every month.
However, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that no attempt was made by the government to give control of the fort to any third party.
“In fact, for receiving funds under the central scheme, one of the conditions was that an agency had to be appointed for operation and maintenance. The agency was finalized through tendering,” Ajgaonkar told reporters.
When a proposal to appoint Drishti Lifesaving was placed before the cabinet, he objected. Lobo said he would oppose tooth and nail any move to give full possession of the renovated fort to a private agency, but he is not against appointing only a cleaning agency as well as conducting light and music shows. .
Lobo said CM Pramod Sawant was convinced by his explanation as to why the government should take control of the fort where Indian freedom fighters as well as those fighting for the liberation of Goa were kept. A part of the fort was used as a prison for political prisoners.
“On the objection raised by me, the motion was deferred for discussion to the next cabinet meeting. I also had the support of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar,” Lobo told reporters.
The government has spent around Rs 25 crore for the restoration and repair of the fort under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. It is expected to be opened to the public on December 19, when PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate it.
Lobo said that when the government has spent crores of rupees to renovate it, there is no point in giving it to any private party, especially to an agency involved in lifeguarding.
“Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is such a big corporation, why could it not deploy staff to operate the ticket counters?” He said the agency will pay Rs 1.2 crore annually to GTDC, which is a small part. “I smell a rat in this proposal. There is a mistake in extracting the amount to be paid by the agency appointed to the GTDC. If given the operation of the historic fort, I can pay Rs 1.2 crore every month.
However, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that no attempt was made by the government to give control of the fort to any third party.
“In fact, for receiving funds under the central scheme, one of the conditions was that an agency had to be appointed for operation and maintenance. The agency was finalized through tendering,” Ajgaonkar told reporters.
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