Beach cleaning co. files defamation case against Goa Congress chief

Even as the Opposition ups its ante against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government over the alleged mismanagement of beach safety apparatus, Drishti Marine, a private beach management contractor has sent a defamation notice to state Congress president Girish Chodankar over the latter's comments casting aspersions vis-a-vis the renewal of beach cleaning contract to the company.

Chodankar confirmed to IANS about the receipt of the defamation notice on Sunday.

"I am not afraid of such notice, which is aimed to silence me. I will continue exposing all the misdeeds of the contractor and the government to protect the taxpayers' money," Chodankar told IANS.

In the civil defamation suit, Drishti Marine has refuted the allegations made by Chodankar in August this year during a press conference. Chodankar had questioned the processes followed to repeatedly renew the beach cleaning contract being awarded to the private agency by the state Tourism Ministry, under section 184 of the General Financial Rules.

While demanding an outright apology from the top Congress official, Drishti Marine in the defamation suit had pointed out that the firm was working at a 40 per cent lesser cost as compared to previous beach cleaning contractors and without escalation of fees for over two years.

Cleanliness and lifeguarding services are privately provided on Goa popular beaches, which sees thousands of foreign and domestic tourists every year.IANS