The inaugural function of renovated ‘Dharohar’ the National Museum of Customs & Commissionerate of the Central Goods & Services Tax at Panaji which was held on 11th June this year and attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had cost the taxpayers Rs 23, 51,362. This has been revealed in the information furnished under the RTI Act by the Goa Commissionerate of GST.
Of the Rs 12, 16, 544 paid to Vinsan Graphics the event management company Rs 1, 18, 200 was for the flower décor of the stage. Incidentally it is the same event company that for the 18 minute swearing in ceremony gala Swearing-in-ceremony of Goa Chief Minister and his eight Ministers which was held on March 28th at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim was paid a whopping Rs 5, 59, 25, 805.
For the inauguration ceremony of the Customs Museum, a further amount of Rs 2, 36,012 was spent on flags. jute bags, customised tiles besides Cashew nuts and Kokam Sharbat offered to the dignitaries. Another Rs 1, 26, 825 was spent on curtains, ID Cards and parking stickers and a Kunbi Saree costing Rs 3499 that was presented to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A further Rs 1, 04, 589 was spent on 25 more jute bags, 55 Kokam juices, 55 half kilo Cashew nut packets besides Rs 62,212 on the High tea served to 150 guests. Also spent was Rs 31,294 on stationery items and Rs 1, 83,490 on signages. While Rs 2, 34, 780 was paid for the 30 vehicles hired to ferry the officials attending the function, Rs 2, 17, 828 was the rental charges of the Entertainment Society of Goa hall where the function was held.
As per the file notings the total expenditure for that inaugural event was initially estimated as Rs 9, 75,000 which was later revised to Rs 10, 75,000 and yet again further revised to Rs 19, 62,500.
As the expenditure incurred is well inflated, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) must investigate the entire expenditure and whether the required procedures were followed in all that expenditure that was incurred on that inaugural function of the Customs Museum. The only silver lining was a modest Rs 3499 spent on the Kunbi Saree presented to the Chief Guest of that inaugural function Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Also sought under RTI are expenses incurred on renovating the Museum which was inaugurated in June this year as well as the entire expenditure incurred when the museum was earlier set up in 2009. While partly furnishing the information, the Goa Commissionerate of GST has stated that some records were being located and would be furnished.
