GTDC's pacts with pvt players will be examined: Minister

Goa Tourism department has decided to examine and review all the current and past dealings of the state-run Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) with private firms to rule out illegalities, if any, the state Assembly was told today.

"I will investigate all the dealings that were done in the past as well as those in pipeline to rule out any illegalities. Our government believes in transparency and everything will be transparent," Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar told the House.

The assurance came following a war of words between the minister and BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral who heads GTDC.

Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Ravi Naik, Ajgaonkar said two-three more hotels will be given to private players on the leave and license basis.
 

"All the agreements of GTDC (with private players) would be examined and reviewed before going ahead with them. These (hotels) are properties of the state government and we should behave responsibly with them," he said.

The minister said GTDC has already agreed to hand over their property at Miramar beach to a private firm. "...That agreement will also be examined," he said, drawing ire of Cabral who said let the minister examine all the agreements signed by GTDC in the past to prove his claim of transparency.

The minister then assured that all the past agreements of the GTDC with private players will be examined.

The minister later tabled a written reply which said: "Due to effective and efficient management of idle and existing assets of the GTDC and monetisation of existing assets, the GTDC has recorded excellent financial performance in the past five years.

"The corporation, which had recorded a severe loss of Rs 627.49 lakh in the year 2011-12, saw a turnaround in its profits and has continuously recorded profits in the last five years. In the year 2016-17, the corporation recorded net profit of Rs 42 crore which is the highest recorded profit in the history of the corporation," the reply said.