Panaji: Fresh allegations of corruption within the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) have surfaced, with a complaint alleging manipulation of contractual records, alteration of bills after completion of work and substitution of tender items reaching chief secretary V Candavelou. This is the third time in less than a month that allegations of fraud have been levelled against GIDC.According to GIDC records obtained through the Right to Information Act by retired GIDC deputy general manager Girish Priolkar and United Goans Foundation (UGF), there is documentary evidence suggesting irregularities in road repairs at Corlim Industrial Estate.The records show that the work was completed in May 2023, but details relating to the road works were altered several months later, resulting in a substantial increase in the project cost.Priolkar said that, as the then deputy general manager (Engineering), he had refused to approve the work because of “serious deficiencies” in its execution. UGF executive member Shriram Raiturkar, in his complaint, also said GIDC’s inspection reports and completion records appeared to be inconsistent.UGF has called for forensic scrutiny of GIDC documents as part of the investigation by the vigilance department and comptroller and auditor general (CAG). The foundation had earlier complained that GIDC was undertaking road repairs without a tender process. Questions have also been raised over the amounts spent by GIDC on redesigning its logo and developing an e-governance platform.Priolkar had earlier written to the industries secretary and GIDC’s Board of Directors, submitting documents alleging serious irregularities in the execution of the road works.“Goa-IDC will fully cooperate with any inquiry or examination by the competent authorities and place all relevant records before them. We are confident that the Corporation has acted in accordance with the prescribed procedures. The allegations can be examined against the official records, and the facts will speak for themselves. We are confident that the matter will reach its logical conclusion,” said Goa-IDC chairperson Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.He said that he has never requested GIDC officers to do anything that is wrong or irregular.
