Porvorim (Goa) Amidst evident differences between Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman Nilesh Cabral over supremacy, here’s information indicating profits earned by GTDC by leasing out its properties in the recent past.
Information tabled on the floor of the House reveals that GTDC is earning over Rs 3.50 crore on every year from nine properties given on leave & license agreement. The data comes at the time when Cabral has been repeatedly publicly claiming about profits earned during his tenure as GTDC Chairman in the last five years.
the Rest House & Cottages at Selaulim, Mollem Resort – popularly known as Dudhsagar Resort & Spa, Terekhol Fort Rest House; Land, Restaurant & Shelter at Vagator, Restaurant at Anjuna, Parking Lot at Anjuna, Canacona Ice Plant Palolem, Land at Baga (Parking), and Parking Area at Shopping Complex in Calangute are on leave & license agreement to different Goan and non-Goan firms. Out of these, Selaulim property offers highest income and net profit of Rs 90 lakh to the GTDC on an annual basis.
Whereas, Mollem Resort which the tourism department claims was running into a loss of over Rs 5 lakh per annum, is currently generating income and net profit to the tune of Rs 13.20 lakh per annum while Terekhol Fort Rest House was earning nominal profit of Rs one lakh per annum. The remaining properties which were either in dilapidated condition and one was illegally encroached did not generate revenue before allotment on leave & license.
“The properties of GTDC have been given on leave & license basis in order to generate revenue for the Corporation as these properties were lying idle and not generating any revenue, making them susceptible to illegal encroachments and litigation. The GTDC will earn good revenue without spending any government funds and also create infrastructure for the tourists like toilets, changing rooms, parking, lighting facilities, etc.” Tourism Minister said in the written reply.
Cabral and Ajgaonkar are at loggerheads over various issues pertaining to the tourism sector with the latter allegedly encroaching into the GTDC functioning. Objection to two political appointees including brother of the minister on the GTDC Board has also irked some from the Corporation with Cabral warning not to tolerate any interference
Ajgaonkar has decided to hold inquiries into all dealings of GTDC properties of last five years, inviting anger from Cabral who has demanded inquiry into all dealings of last 20 years.
Team TNV