Calangute villagers oppose Goa Tourism Promotion, Management and Regulation Bill, 2024 at Gram sabha ‘
CALANGUTE: the Ordinary Gram Sabha of calangute held on Sunday adopted a resolution to oppose The Goa Tourism Promotion, Management and Regulation Bill, 2024’, stating that the bill will be detrimental to the tourism industry in the village.
the issues deliberated included sewage lack of electricity supply etc. the gram sabha witnessed a less turnout of the villagers due to the heavy incessant rains.
A villager Denzil D’souza raised the issue of water logging, next the saint Anthony Chapel in calangute and suggested that the panchayat take up the construction of cross drain sarpanch Joseph Sequeira assured that the issue will be resolved immediately and the area will be filled with mud . another villager Agnelo D’souza raised the issue of the constant power supply failures in the village and demanded to know the status of the electricity sub-station to this sarpanch stated that he will write to the chief engineer of the electricity department to resolve the issue villagers also pointed out that non- functioning of the street lights. Another local Premanand Divkar raised the issue of the discharge of sewerage into the baga river by commercial establishments and demanded to know what action will be taken by the panchayat . Sarpanch assured to seal the premises of those establishments found discharging sewerage .
The members also raised the issue of installation of proper traffic signages in the village to regulate the traffic flow sarpanch assured to write to the traffic police.
Another issue which came up for discussion at the gram sabha was regarding the menace created by stray cattle on the beach locals suggested to the panchayat to impound the stray cattle that are loitering on the streets sarpanch said that they will write to department of animal husbandry to impound them
Villagers also raised the issue of sound pollution created by restaurants playing loud music beyond permissible limits sarpanch assured of initiating action action sound pollution . on the issue of the discussion of the Goa tourism bill the gram sabha adopted a resolution to oppose the Goa tourism Promotion, Management and Regulation Bill, 2024 as it was not going to benefit the locals involved in the tourism trade and suggested to the panchayat to send the objection to local MLA so that he could put forth the objection in the upcoming monsson assembly session villagers pointed out to the various deviations in the proposed bill from the Tourism Policy 2020 with respect to representation for the local tourism stakeholders. Villagers said that the draft bill has provisions for some national bodies who had no role to play in tourism industry of Goa. Another issue which came up for discussion was regarding the parking of rent a bike along the footpaths obstructing the smooth flow of traffic sarpanch said that he will initiate enquiry and direct the traffic police to remove such vehicles