Ports Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, on Saturday, December 18 reiterated his stand to oppose a proposal to hand over operations and maintenance of the renovated Fort Aguada to a private agency ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Goa.
Prime Minister is all set to inaugurate the renovated Aguada fort after which the historic monument will be thrown open to the public from December 19.
Speaking to Gomantak Times, Lobo said: "I would like welcome PM Modi on behalf of people of Calangute. We are happy that he will inaugurate the refurbished and repaired monument of Goa. At the same time, I want to request him that it is a significant monument in the history of Goa and shouldn't be given to someone else for maintenance."
He further said he had raised objections to this proposal earlier and alleged corruption to hand over the maintenance to Drishti Lifesaving. "When this decision came to the cabinet, I did not agree to outsource this to anyone. There is someone called a Dhristi, who handles beach management but now wants to undertake this fort and I feel that there is corruption in it," Lobo said
"Goa's history should remain only in the hands of the Goans and I assure that CM Sawant will keep it in our hands only," Lobo said.
The Government has spent around Rs 25 crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to renovate and repair the fort.
