MARGAO
After the issue figured prominently at the just concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will chair a meeting on Monday with the coastal MLAs and representatives of water sports operators from both North and South Goa to discuss issues plaguing the water sports operations.
Besides the eight coastal MLAs including Jit Arolkar, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Michael Lobo, Jennifer Monserrate, Sankalp Amonkar, Krishna Salkar and Venzy Viegas, Tourism Director Pravimal Abhishek Polumatla has invited representatives of around 18 water sports associations operating along the North and South Goa coastline.
The meeting assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of complaints lodged by the water sports operators against what they term as Tourism Department’s plan to bulldoze with GEL controlling the water sports operations.
South Goa water sports operators have been critical over the Tourism Department’s decision to bring the water sports operations under GEL. In fact, GEL had already made its presence felt at the Cavelossim beach since last year, with the Tourism Department introducing GEL with strong police force.
The beleaguered water sports operators have contended that the High Court had only directed that the water sports operators maintain the queue system, adding that the Tourism Department is introducing GEL under the guise of the High Court order.
South Goa Water Sports Association members have contended that neither the government nor GEL has in any way contributed to water sports operations along the coast, pointing out that the traditional stakeholders, including the fishermen had introduced water sports operations in the State decades ago.
