The BIG FAT Aguada Jail SCAM in the making
Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Even at the fag end of the term of the State government, the Ministers in the Dr Pramod Sawant Government do not shy away from kicking up controversy.
The Tourism Minister Babu Azgaonkar, who happens to be the State’s Dy Chief Minister, has often got embroiled in controversies, and on Wednesday, he moved a proposal to teh State Cabinet, which raised many eyebrows.
The proposal moved was for approval for the Selection of Operations and Management agency and sgning of agreement with the selected bidder for the Management, Operations and Maintenance of Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) in Goa.
Babu Azgaonkar wants to hand over the Management of the Jail, which has been renovated at the cost of Rs 25 cr to a private company M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd, teh same company which is managing the lifeguard company and so also the beach cleaning in the State.
The entire management and light show contract is to be handed over for Rs 1.2 cr annually, which seems shocking.
According to Minister Michael Lobo, who opposed the proposal at the State Cabinet, Rs 1.2 cr is peanuts for the historic monument.
“I am a businessman and I know the worth of this historic place. This place is worth crores every month if teh GOvernment can handle it properly,” he said.
Lobo said that almost 10,000 people visit the historic Aguada fort every day and are charged Rs 150 by ASI and the daily revenue is Rs around Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakhs.
“Considering this, the contractor will earn almost Rs 40-50 lakhs every month. If ASI can manage the Fort, why not the State government or GTDC?” he asked.
“I can give Rs 1.2 cr every month. I am a businessman,” he said.
Lobo further said that some ministers want to get a retirement package.
“They know they won’t be re-elected, so they are in a hurry to make money,” he charged.
Appointment of contractor…
As the work on the restoration of Aguada Jail is complete and as it is important for effective operations and proper Management of the monument as per Swadesh Darshan scheme guidelines, GTDC had floated tender for “Appointment of Operator for Management, Operations and Maintenance of Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) in Goa” on 05.02.2021 after taking necessary approvals. The proposed appointment of the Operator is for a period of 15 years and is extendable by another 15 years. During this period, the Operator is required to undertake the following scope of work under the overall supervision of GTDC:
- The Aguada Jail premises shall be open 24×7 on all days of the week, including Sundays and public holidays. Public visitor timings will be between 8 am to 11 pm.
- Operations and Maintenance of Information Zone including but not limited to managing the ticket counters, O&M of Tourist Information Centre, O&M of Handicrafts shop including marketing outlet for products made by Jail inmates of Colvale and other jails in Goa and Operations and maintenance of Caf茅 / restaurant.
- Operations and Maintenance of Museum Zone including but not limited to Operations of Administration block, Maintenance of Small visitor’s area (within the workshop) along with seating arrangement and Photo booths, Organizing outdoor events area along fortification wall, etc. Museum to display Artefacts in Hall 1, Hall 2 and Ladies Cell related to the freedom struggle and themed zones for enhancing the experience of visitors.
- GTDC will set up a digital museum within Aguada premises, and the Operator will maintain the same.
- Operations and Maintenance of Core Heritage Zone including O&M of a Sound and Light show at Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail), Showcasing the items used by the famous Late freedom fighters of Goa like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Shri. TB. Cunha that were jailed at Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) and information regarding their role in the freedom struggle in English, Hindi, Konkani and Marathi.
- Deployment of Security Personnel, housekeeping, facility management of all assets.
- The entire premises will be under full control of the GTDC, and O and M operator will only provide services as envisaged in the scope. GTDC has posteda senior officer of the rank of General Manager to Aguada Central Jail Premises for overall Management and surveillance during the entire tenure of the Project.
After undertaking a nationwide competitive process in e-tender mode, GTDC Board has selected M/s. Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd. as the successful bidder.
As the restoration works related to the Project are complete as on date and it is important to appoint an O&M operator for proper operations and maintenance of the Project, GTDC intends to issue a Letter of Award to the auccessful bidder, M/s. Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd. The GTDC will enter into agreement with the successful bidder, and the agreement will be drafted by a legal advisor on panel of GTDC, and duly approved by GTDC Board.
The proposal before Cabinet…
The proposal is to seek approval of the Cabinet for the selection of M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pt Ltd as Licensee for the Management, Operations and Maintenance of Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) in Goa, for issuance of
Letter of Award to them and execute agreement as per terms and conditions specified in the RFP.
Inter-departmental consultation…
Finance Department had stated that Aguada Jail Premises belong to GTDC, which is an autonomous body. The Finance Department has no role in the matter The concerned corporation may take necessary action in the matter following due procedure.
- Law Department had stated that GTDC being an independent entity in the eye of law may take further necessary action in consultation with legal counsel on
record of the GTDC
Resolution before Cabinet…
To approve:
- i) Selection of M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pt Ltd as Licensee for the Management, Operations and Maintenance of Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) in Goa.
- ii) For issuance of Letter of Award to them.
ili) Execute agreement as per terms and conditions as specified in the RFP duly approved by GTDC Board.
The proposal has been administratively approved by the Hon’ble Tourism Minister and Hon’ble Chief Minister.
Background…
Aguada Fort is a historic monument and was originally constructed in 1612 by the Portuguese rulers to guard against the European invaders. The Fort is classified into two broad areas – upper Fort and lower Fort. While the upper Fort was built as a vantage point to serve as a fort and a watering station for ships, the lower Fort offered a safe berth to the Portuguese ships.
In the subsequent years, prior to liberation, the Lower Fort was used as a prison, where renowned Late Freedom fighters of Goa like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
and Shri. T.B. Cunha were jailed, during the freedom struggle of Goa. After liberation, this Fort was converted by the Goa Administration to function as the Central Jail and functioned as a Jail until 2016, when the Jail was shifted to the new jail complex, constructed at Colvale. The lower fort/erstwhile Jail premises has not been declared/ notified as a protected monument under ASI or
State Archives.
The Aguada Jail premises, admeasuring 96,878 sq.mts., is located in Survey Number 91/0 and 92/0 of Candolim village of Bardez Taluka.
The renovation….
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation has moved a proposal to the Home Department in the year 28.12.2015, requesting that the Jail be transferred to GTDC for development as a heritage tourism destination by availing funds under Swadesh Darshan Coastal circuit I scheme of the Ministry of Tourism Govt of India.
The State Cabinet had approved the proposal in 2016.
Thereafter, the Inspector General of Prisons handed over the former Jail premises, which was dilapidated, to Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) on 08.07.2019 along with all the structures in the said property.
To commemorate the sacrifices made by several freedom fighters and augment the heritage tourism offerings in the State, GTDC had undertaken the restoration of the Aguada Lower Fort (Central Jail) to repurpose it as a monument for the freedom struggle of Goa.
The said. work was also expected to increase the awareness among the general public and tourists about the rich heritage of Goa. The said work has been undertaken (as part of Development of Coastal Circuit covering Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, and Aguada Jail) through Central Financial Assistance (CA) of Rs.2865.31 Lakhs obtained from Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Government of India under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
It may be noted that Aguada Jail premises is not a protected monument as per the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (Central Act No. 24 of 1958) OR Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Panaji-Goa under Goa, Daman and
Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978 (Goa Act 1 of 1979).
Hence, the Heritage Bye-laws that relate to
protected monuments are not applicable to Aguada Jail premises. However, since the Aguada Jail premises is within the regulated zone boundary of 100 –
300 meters of Aguada Fort, which is ASI protected monument, GTDC had obtained approval from ASI Delhi dated 31.01.2018 for undertaking the proposed restoration works although Aguada Jail premises by itself is not a protected monument as per ASI or Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Panaji-Goa.
Subsequent to the ASI approval, an application was made to the National Monuments Authority via Chief Town Planner (Planning) and GTDC received the
approval from NMA on 23.08.2019 for undertaking adaptive reuse of the Aguada Jail premises.
After receipt of NMA approval, GTDC had also obtained approvals from various competent authorities like Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority dated 04.06.2018, Town & Country Planning Department dated 13.03.2020, Construction/ restoration licence from Candolim Panchayat dated 15.05.2020 and Forest Department dated 18.02.2020 for undertaking the restoration works. As on date, based on the detailed site analysis followed by interactions with various freedom fighters/historians of Goa, the restoration works have been completed at the project site under the overall supervision of the Archaeological Society of India (ASI) and renowned
conservation Architect Ketak Nachinolkar.
In order to preserve the monument, create awareness among the general public/tourists, and create awareness about the contribution of freedom fighters in Goa’s freedom struggle, GTDC had proposed a sound and light show, development of museum, and showcasing of artefacts related to freedom struggle etc. along with other support amenities.
