---------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goa has become graveyard for tourists, says Fernandes -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Agnelo Fernandes, MLA of Calangute, said in the state legislative assembly on Monday that the government should give shack licences to all those who were given such licences during the last season.
Participating in the debate on the budgetary demands on the tourism, science, technology and environment in the state legislative assembly on Monday, Mr Fernandes said that Goa has became a graveyard for tourists and alleged that the Tourism Department has no proper life-saving equipment and it had not installed any equipment on beaches. Besides, he said there are no sufficient lighting on beach and alleged that the department was over enthusiastic in only restricting the number of shacks on the beaches. Mr Fernandes said the department should give shack licences to all those who were issued licences last year. Besides, he said 346 notices were served to local people alleging violation of the CRZ. "Is this the government move to drive out Goans and why no action has been taken over an illegal hotel which is being constructed in Calangute?" Mr Fernandes asked. Dr Suresh Amonkar (Pale) said the tourism department has neglected the Harvalem tourist spot and alleged that the officials of the Goa Sadan in New Delhi shifted the students of Ayurvedic College, when they had gone to Delhi, in spite of prior booking of Goa Sadan. He said the students were taken to a lodge in the area which was resembling like a red-light area. However, students refused to stay in that lodge and the North Goa MP, Mr Shripad Naik had to interfere and take students to his house. Mr Laxmikant Parsenkar (Mandrem) said Goa has a coastline of 105 kms and the government recording 338 CRZ violation was a mere farce. He said out of the 23 constructions, which were demolished, 18 are in Mandrem and only five in the rest of Goa. He said the government had demolished 30-yr-old six kiosks at the Keri ferry point alleging that it was CRZ violation. "These were not the concrete structures and were existing much before the CRZ notification was issued," he said. Without naming the politicians, Mr Parsenkar said one of the politicians has asked the owner of the land at Terekhol to sell the property. He urged the government to stop such things. Mr Francis D'Souza (Mapusa) demanded that the area of beach shacks should be reduced as he said there is no place for people to walk on beaches in Goa. Besides, he said it is unfair to see the beggars outside bank ATMs and children of Lamanis begging before the foreign tourists. Mr Rajesh Patnekar, Mr Narhari Halankar, Mr Ramrao Dessai and Mr Alexio Sequieria were among those who spoke on the occasion. ---------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 19/7/06 page 6 ---------------------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date: 7/18/2006 _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
