From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 22: State cabinet was not consulted before finalizing the agreement with a private firm to install high security registration plates (HSRPs) to the vehicles in the state, a senior minister said.
 
“The file for agreement was not placed before the cabinet and also work advisory board headed by the chief secretary was not consulted before getting into an agreement with a private firm to install HSRPs in the state,” state transport minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar told reporters here.
 
Dhavalikar who is drawing flak for enforcing the HSRP in the state clarified that he was not holding transport portfolio when the file was sanctioned in 2007.
 
“Any tender for more than Rs 2.5 crores value has to be referred to work advisory board. The tender given for M/s Shimit Utsch Pvt Ltd to install HSRP is worth Rs 50 crores and still evaded the mandatory rule,” Dhavalikar stated.
 
The minister expressed his helplessness to withdraw HSRPs from the state as according to him `it would amount to contempt of supreme court.’
 
“We have already signed the agreement and now we have to face the consequences,” the minister quipped.
 
The implementation of HSRP has earned ire for the state government with leaders cutting across political affiliations and transporters calling for a day long Goa bandh on September 25 demanding the scrapping of the project.
 
The HSRP has been implemented in the state since this July. The anti-HSRP activists feel that it is unnecessary burden on the common people.
 
Dhavalikar today said that he has asked the department to `go slow’ on the implementation and not to force people to install HSRP till Srivastava-committee, formed to study the issue, gives its final report.
 
The minister alleged that another company by name Utsav was fraudulently providing registration plates for the vehicles. “They are terming it as All time high security registration plates (ATHSRP). We have filed a police complaint against this company which is not authorized to do so,” Dhavalikar said.