Despite much furore over the taxpayers’ paid trip of Goan legislators to witness the Football World Cup in Brazil the legislators concerned are yet to reimburse the amount paid, Goa’s Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar confirmed on Friday.
Four ruling legislators, including one Cabinet Minister, who, after the uproar promised to refund Rs89 lakh spent on a World Cup junket to Brazil, are yet to repay despite being sent three notices from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Tawadkar said that only part of the money spent on the junket had been reimbursed to the State treasury by Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, legislators Carlos Almeida, Glen Ticlo (both from the BJP) and Benjamin Silva (Independent MlA supporting the Government), who went to Brazil in July.
“We have issued them notice,” Tawadkar said.
Earlier this year in July during the FIFA world cup, seven ruling lawmakers from Goa were all set to go on a State-funded junket to Brazil ostensibly to learn how to organise a football tournament. However, a media exposé and the resultant uproar led three lawmakers to drop out of the trip costing nearly Rs1-crore and the others deciding the refund the money.
The fully-funded junket to the World Cup was sanctioned by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.