GALGIBAGA, April 30 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

The Wildlife and Eco Tourism division in South Goa has come under scrutiny after a payment estimate of nearly Rs 31 lakh was approved for daily wage workers reportedly employed during the turtle nesting season despite official records indicating that beach cleaning services had already been outsourced to a private agency.

Documents accessed by O Heraldo reveal that an estimate was submitted on January 1, 2025, seeking payment for daily wage labourers deployed between December 12, 2024, and February 28, 2025.

The estimate was submitted by Range Forest Officer Rajesh Naik to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife & Eco Tourism (South).

The work, according to the estimate, spanned 16 location...