PANAJI
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Friday blamed an IPS officer for allowing the Oceanman swimming event at Caranzalem beach without obtaining the required permissions.
Commenting on the open-water swimming event fiasco, Khaunte said that the high-handedness of an IPS officer led to the entire mess. He said the event was organised without obtaining the due permissions by the organiser.
Khaunte further remarked that some IPS officers posted in Goa treat their tenure as a holiday, and urged them to understand the ground realities and sentiments of local communities.
He emphasised that when fishing communities are engaged in their livelihood activities in the area, no other event or activity can be permitted.
Oceanman organiser gets bail
Meanwhile, Oceanman chief organiser Kapil Arora, who was arrested for hosting the international swimming event at Caranzalem beach without the necessary permissions, was granted bail on Thursday by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Merces.
Panaji police had arrested the Mumbai-based sports organiser on Sunday following an FIR alleging that the event was conducted without the required approvals or safety measures. The arrest came after some participants filed complaints and sought compensation. Earlier, a tense situation had developed at the beach after ramponkars objected to the event.
Advocate Salil Lawande told the media that the court granted Arora bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. On Tuesday, the Tourism Department imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, while the Fisheries Department ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The two-day event saw participation from 800 competitors from 20 countries. Participants funded their own travel, food, and accommodation, with some undergoing rigorous training under personal instructors to take part in the competition.
According to the FIR, the “Oceanman” swimming event was held on Sunday morning without prior approval from authorities or the deployment of lifeguards and security personnel. Police stated that the event endangered public safety and that Arora collected Rs 3,26,100 in registration fees without ensuring adequate protection for participants.
