Lamanis, Kashmiris may find the going tough ...
BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 23 - With the state bracing up for a new tourist season, the presence of Kashmiris and laamanis on Salcetes beach-front has begun to haunt the local Panchayat bodies. Benaulim village has now resolved to be strict vis-a-vis licences issued for local Goans to set up stalls in the village during the coming tourist season. With many Kashmiris spotted in the temporary stalls put up by Goans with NOC from the Panchayat body, the Panchayats gram sabha has decided to revoke licences if found that the stall has been sub-letted to a Kashmiri or any other outsider. Says Benaulim Sarpanch, Maria Fernandes: This time, the Panchayat will periodically undertake checking of the the stalls to ascertain whether it has been leased out or not. She maintained that the Panchayat would revoke the licences of any stall if found subletted. And, to ensure transparency, the Panchayat has decided to conduct joint inspection of any stall in question along with the complainant. Benaulim is one coastal village which issues NOCs for temporary stalls during the tourist season, with the condition that only Goans are issued the NOCs to put up a stall. However, the last two years saw locals bitterly complaining to the Panchayat body against the blatant misuse of the NOCs. Local stall owners, had however, maintained that they have not sub-letted their premises, but attibuted the presence of the Kashmiris as their employees. Neighbouring Colva Panchayat too is bracing up for a new season. One of the crowded beaches along the Salcete coast, Colva along with the Cavelossim-Mobor beach has normally witnessed Laamanis swarming on the beach, harassing and posing nuisance to the tourists. And, like last year, the Colva Panchayat has decided to hire private security to crack a whip against the laamanis loitering on the beach. Cavelossim-Mobor Sarpanch Edwin Barretto says the Panchayat would approach the men-in-uniform to keep the laamanis away from the beach. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3286&cid=26 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
