Goa: Over Rs 1 crore spent on Princess tenders

The state government has issued and scrapped seven global tenders and spent a total of Rs 1.67 crore, including on legal suits and consultants, for the removal of the M V River Princess ever since it was grounded in June 2000. Ironically, the ship's presence continues to loom over a fast eroding Sinquerim beach even as the tourism department is readying itself to issue yet another tender for the ship's removal.The River Princess chartered by M/s Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, 'drifted' from the Panaji port to the Sinquerim seashore on a stormy night on June 6, 2000.

Governments, tourism ministers and tourism directors have come and gone, but the ill-fated vessel continues to claw at the tax-payer's money. Until September 2009, the tourism department spent Rs 70.55 lakh on tender advertisements alone. Since then, two more global tenders were issued in October and December with Rs 58 lakh spent on issuing advertisements to newspapers and shipping magazines.

The government has also spent Rs 6.76 lakh towards professional fees, air tickets, hotel expenses and miscellaneous expenses on the state advocate general and government advocates, when the contract awarded to Jaisu went into litigation. Further, a sum of Rs 2.74 lakh has been spent on travel and hotel expenses on the director of tourism and other officials. Reports from a consultant–Ericson and Richard Tower cost Rs 30, 391.