Times of India | 1 month ago | 04-02-2023 | 07:00 am
PANAJI: Irked with private contractors repeatedly delaying various contracts such as for public toilets, parking spaces and tourism services, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) board met on Friday and served an ultimatum to the agencies.From the delay in commissioning a new river cruise vessel to excuses about managing pay-parking facilities at GTDC properties, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte demanded that all works be executed in a time-bound manner. Khaunte said that some contractors have been “dilly-dallying for the last six to nine months” without executing the contracts.“We have serious concerns about the contractors, like those given the contract for a toilet facility,” said Khaunte after the board meeting. “Such issues are there at Anjuna, Mayem and many other places where the contractors for parking have not done anything. We have given them a strict deadline and told them to start.”TOI on Friday had reported how the parking contractor at Baga has converted part of the public toilet into a clothing store.“Yesterday they started selling some clothes where toilets are supposed to be. So on Friday, we went and took action, but the important thing is to look at the O&M (operations and maintenance) partners who have come in and to look at what they (contractors) have committed to and ensure they do not deviate from the agreement. These issues were discussed by the board,” said Khaunte.Khaunte and GTDC chairman Ganesh Gaonkar have asked department officials to issue strict directions to contractors and agencies appointed through the public-private-partnership (PPP) route to abide by the stipulated norms of the contract, including the deadlines.“In the coming days, a new passenger boat will start operations. It was supposed to start after Covid, but it keeps getting delayed, so we have asked them to give us a final date,” said Khaunte.The GTDC board deliberated and screened presentations for various projects, including the proposal for a digital museum at Aguada Jail.“The facilities that are created need to be used and operations need to start. the O&M partners have been told to start working fast so that the GTDC and the government can start getting revenue,” said Khaunte.
Tagged: |