Oceanarium row rocks Goa house

PANAJI, July 15: Opposition members today forced the Speaker of the Goa Assembly Tomazinho Cardoso to adjourn the House for five minutes ...

PANAJI, July 15: Opposition members today forced the Speaker of the Goa Assembly Tomazinho Cardoso to adjourn the House for five minutes as tempers flew high over the awarding of a contract for an oceanarium to an Australian company Studio C.

The issue which dominated the question hour resulted in Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane assuring that his Government would verify the bonafides of the Australian company, which along with its Indian subsidiary, has bagged the contract. Rane also pledged the government would try to recoup the revenue loss due to the delay in the project.

Within minutes after the first question was taken up on the project, the minister for power, Mauvin Godinho, also head of Science and Technology Ministry, drew flak from BJP and MGP members. Godinho passed the buck to the Delhi-based department of ocean development DOD, New Delhi, over the verification of the contractor8217;s bonafides. He also said that noted consultants, Engineers India Ltd had certified Studio C. Godinho also insistedthat the responsibility of the state government was limited to providing land for the project; the state is alloting 32,000 square metres of prime land for the project at Miramar near Panaji.

However leader of the Opposition, Kashinath Jhalmi, referring to The Indian Express report on Monday accused the Ministry of not verifying Studio C8217;s bonafides and thereby causing the scandal. He noted that Studio C is falsely claiming credit for prestigious international aquarium projects, when all it had was former employees of companies involved in the projects on its pay roll, he said.

Godinho stated that though he was convinced of Studio C8217;s bonafides he has referred the entire matter to DoD for verifying the company8217;s bonafides.

The work on the project for which the foundation stone was laid in December 1997 is yet to commence as Studio C has been unable to arrange for funding. The promoters have however promised to complete the project by February 2000, Godinho said in his written reply. Angrymembers, however, demanded that the government ensure that the promoters compensate for loss to the state owing to the delay.