The latest excerpts from the Goa Assembly question/answer session, interpetated by the Goan Observer.

Dayanand Narvekar: Number of cases of drug peddling detected in Goa for last three years.

Manohar Parrikar: Sir, 99 cases of drugs peddling were detected in Goa from January 2001 till 14/7/2004.

Dayanand Narvekar: The total number of material confiscated and who are the accused;

Manohar Parrikar: (1) Details of total quantity/ nos. of material confiscated are as under:-

Dayanand Narvekar: Number of accused released by court and number of sentenced by Court.

Manohar Parrikar: A number of 38 accused persons have been released and 36 have been sentenced by the Court.

Dayanand Narvekar: Whether there is a drug cartel working in Goa for procurement and supply of drugs in the State.

Manohar Parrikar: No, Sir.

Dayanand Narvekar: If so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

Manohar Parrikar: N.A

Comments: The claims that no drugs cartels are operating from Goa has been refuted by the former DIG Seva Das.

Vandals go scot free

Dr. Wilfred de Souza: Whether the Government is aware of the vandalism that took place in Fontainhas and particularly on 31 st January road in Panjim on 18 June, 2004.

Manohar Parrikar: Sir, an offence vide Panaji P.S. Cr. No. 138/04 U/S 143, 427 r/w 149 IPC stands registered against 25 to 30 unknown persons for forming an unlawful assembly and damaging the plaque “31 st January Road’ put up on the wall of hotel ‘Panjim Inn’.

Dr. Wilfred de Souza: Steps the Government has taken to apprehend the guilty for destruction of private and public property.

Manohar Parrikar: Investigation of the case is in progress.

Dr. Wilfred de Souza: Whether vandalism is supported by this Government.

Manohar Parrikar: No.

Dr. Wilfred de Souza: If not, the steps Government has taken to prevent repetition of such unlawful activity.

Manohar Parrikar: The Police Department will take necessary steps to prevent repetition of such incident.

Comment: The police have failed to arrest even a single vandal though the names of those who vandalised Fontainhas were published in all the dailies in Goa.

Defunct Women’s Cell?

Victoria Fernandes: Whether there is any woman Police Station in the State.

Manohar Parrikar: Yes, Sir.

Victoria Fernandes: If so, its location.

Manohar Parrikar: The Women Police Station is located at Police Head Quarters, Panaji.

Victoria Fernandes: Number of cases that have been registered as on today at the said Police Station and its outcome.

Manohar Parrikar: Cognizable cases registered at Women Police Station, are as under:-

Comment: Neither the victims nor the police take the women’s cell seriously as no complaint were registered in year 2003-04.

Rs 1.43 cr For Dirty Beaches

Damodar Naik: Whether the Government is still continuing the cleaning of beaches and disposal of garbage on the beaches.

Matanhy Saldanha: Yes, Sir.

Damodar Naik: Expenditure incurred per annum for last 3 years.

Mathany Saldanha: As per the details given below:

2001 – 2002 – Rs. 4,13,770/-

2002 – 2003 – Rs. 52,83,055/-

2003 - 2004 – Rs. 1,43,04,648/-

Damodar Naik: Name the contractors who have been awarded the contracts?

Matanhy Saldanha:

2001-2002

i) Vincent Diniz

ii)Gomantak Security & Detective Services

2002-2003

i ) Vinod Kumar Ghanta

ii) Venkateshwara Constructions

iii) D.R.Naik

iv) M/s Muraii Builders

v) A. Poonuraj

vi) Rosario Santan Fernandes

vii) G.U. Haldankar

2003-2004

i) A. Poonuraj

ii) M/s. Murali Builders

iii)Rosario Santan Fernandes

iv) G.U. Haldankar

Comment: The beaches remain dirty and full of garbage deposits despite contracts worth Rs.1.43 Crores having been awarded in 2003-04 alone for garbage clearance.

Hotels Have A Field Day

Damodar Naik: Whether all the hotels in the State are registered under Tourist Trade Act.

Matanhy Saldanha: Sir, All the hotels in the State, have to be registered under the Tourist Trade Act, 1982. To date there are 451 hotels, in addition, to this there are 1910 paying guest accommodations registered, as per the applications received and disposed off.

Damodar Naik: Whether inspections are carried out to see that they maintain the standard under the said Act;

Matanhy Saldanha: Sir, on receipt of applications for registration of hotels along with required documents, the Inspection / Classification Committee constituted by the Government carries our a spot inspection of the hotel, and classifies the same in various categories i.e. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ after considering the location, structure , standard, upkeep, accommodation facilities, service amenities and general conditions. Subsequently surprise inspections are carried out besides attending to specific complaints.

Damodar Naik: Numbers of hotels that have been penalized for not maintaining requisite standard.

Matanhy Saldanha: Nil

Comment: It is obvious that the tourism department does not bother to monitor the functioning of hotels and lodgings.

Huge Cost On Tourism Promotion

Luizinho Faleiro: Number of Tourist festival the Department of Tourism and Tourism Development Corporation participated during the last three years, give names of festivals.

Matanhy Saldanha: Sir, the number of tourists festivals the Department of Tourism and Tourism Development Corporation participated during the last 3 years are as follows:

1. National Festivals = 20

2. International Festival = 16

Luizinho Faleiro: The total amount spent on each festival.

Matanhy Saldanha: Total amount spent is Rs.6,64,15,300.

Luizinho Faleiro: Whether it is a fact that the increase of tourists arrivals because of participation in such festival; give details.

Matanhy Saldanha: Sir, the increase of tourist traffic to Goa for the last 3 years i.e. 2000-2003 was 60%. It’s a fact that participation in various travel and trade related events in India and abroad, as part of promotional activities of the Department of Tourism is a process by which we have increased tourist arrivals.

Comment: The tourism department which claims it has no money to pay lifeguards or insure them has spent Rs. 6.64 crore on participating in tourism promotional festivals in India and abroad.

GSIDC Projects

Ravi Naik: The total amount of fees paid to each of the consultants and the amount pending payment as on date, for the projects awarded to them; and after 17.2.2004;

Manohar Parrikar: Sir, total fees paid to the Consultants from 17/02/2004 till date is Rs.135.45. lakhs. There are no fees pending payment as on date.

Ravi Naik: If so, the name of the consultant and the contractor?

Manohar Parrikar: Does not arise in view of the above.

Comment: the Government has incurred an expenditure of Rs. 1.35 crore on consultancy fees so far on IFFI and the figure could well increase 10 fold before the completion of the project.

Only Rs 4.92 Crore?

Ravi Naik: The total cost of Old Goa Medical College and Hospital with Hostel Campus and Heritage Structures without land.

Manohar Parrikar: Sir, the total depreciated cost of non heritage structures of old Goa Medical College and Hospital in Hospital Campus amounts to Rs. 4,92,74,290.05

Ravi Naik: Give cost of land, present value and cost of Multiplexes and cost of other facilities to be created in phases.

Manohar Parrikar: Sir, the land belongs to the Government hence the cost has not been worked out. The estimated cost of constructing the Multiplex facility is Rs.20.99 crores.

Ravi Naik: After demolition the total amount the Government will earn from sale of all items retrieved from the demolished building. Give details?

Manohar Parrikar: The demolition tender included carting away and sale of debris. However, reusable material like fans, electrical fixtures, doors, etc., have been used for Apna Ghar at Merces and for Upgradation and improvement of IPHB Building at Altinho, Panaji where the offices from Old GMC campus have been shifted.

Comment : According to opposition legislators and even independent estimates the market value of the structures demolished at he old GMC complex is over Rs. 40 crore as against the government estimate of 4.92 crore. The government has pent almost Rs. 3 crore for purchasing premises for relocating offices operating from the Old GMC.

No Israelis?

Dayanand Narvekar: Number of foreign tourists visited Goa during the period from April, 2003 to March 2004, give details country wise by chartered flights.

Matanhy Saldanha: Sir, the total number of foreign tourists visited during April 2003 to March 2004 is 3,21,399. The number of foreign tourists who visited Goa from April 2003 to March 2004 by Charter flights is as follows;

a) United Kingdom 78000

b) Germany 5439

c) Russia 18987

d) Sweden 7732

e) Finland 4032

f) Switzerland 2517

g)Holland 2694

h)Hungary 566

i) Iran 682

j) France 04

Total 120653

Dayanand Narvekar: Foreign exchange earned by hotels from tourists.

Matanhy Saldanha: Foreign exchange earned by hotels are not calculated separately. However, foreign exchange earned by the State out of tourism sector is estimated to be Rs.1500 crores per year

Comment : The Russians are the second largest contingent of tourists to visit Goa. Strangely there is no mention of Israel tourists though they visit Goa in large number.

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