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NGOs prevent us from taking action against stray dogs Herald As soon as a director of tourism takes office, instead of a bouquet of flowers he is presented with the River Princess file. What plans do you have for the eyesore of Sinquerim? The prime task of the government is to see that the vessel is removed. The Crosschem contract has already been terminated. Before we go in for fresh tenders the government has decided that a team of experts from the National Ship Design and Research Centre, Vishakapatnam be deputed to examine the vessel and give options as to how best the vessel can be towed away or refloated. The nuisance has to be removed. The vessel is an eyesore. Another huge hurdle is the garbage problem. How do you plan to get Goa ready for the tourist season which is already on us? Lets call it the solid waste disposal problem. The Deputy Chief Minister is the Minister for Tourism and is also holding the Environment portfolio. As far as the beach areas are concerned, we have appointed agencies to see that the beaches and approach roads to them are kept clean. We have divided the beaches into different stretches which is looked after by these agencies. The tar ball problem which came up almost as soon as I took office, was solved efficiently by these agencies, with the assistance of hoteliers. The second time it happened, it was also taken care of. It has been dumped in quarries far away under the guidance of the Goa Pollution Control Board. What role does the Tourism Department have in the IFFI since the event has been neatly packaged between the Directorate of Film Festivals, Delhi (DFF) and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG)? The Tourism Department comes into the picture when films are to be screened on beaches. We will also have to take care of places of tourist importance where we have done illumination. We will lend assistance to the ESG wherever they want to hold events in places of tourist interest and give them publicity. We are working on a series of promotional campaigns in the electronic media Star Plus for the domestic sector and BBC for the international viewers. How do you plan to deal with the alleged UK travel advisory warning its citizens about rabid stray animals in Goa? This, I believe was a stray incident which is yet to be confirmed. The government has to have a firm policy for a solution to the problem of strays in urban areas and villages. But when you try to target the animals, People for Animals and other NGOs prevent us from taking any action. Goa is fast gaining notoriety for the sleazy type of tourism -- sex tourism, paedophilia, cocaine parties etc. Do you have any plans for changing this? Before the allotment of shacks was done, we called in some NGOs and had them talk to the shack owners on paedophilia. They were made aware that if they are found involved in or encouraging, or even if we hear anything, we will keep a watch on them and revoke their licenses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 1st Young Goans International Essay contest 2005 | | | | Theme: WHAT CAN I DO FOR GOA | | More details at | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/034190.html | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
