MAPUSA
Tourism Minister, Rohan Khaunte literally walked his talk on taking action against illegal activities and closed down a water sports counter for charging exorbitant fees to tourists on the Calangute beach on Sunday evening.
Khaunte also asked the shack operators to remove their encroachment within 48 hours or else the Tourism Department would clear the illegal encroachments.
He conducted a surprise visit to Calangute and Vagator beaches and directed the police and tourism officials to stop all illegal activities on the coastline.
Some tourists in Calangute complained to the tourism minister that the manager/incharge of a water sports facility quoted a figure of Rs 3000 for parasailing when the actual rate was found to be around Rs 1800.
Khaunte immediately called the concerned manager/incharge and during inquiries found several irregularities in the way the water sports facility was conducted on the beach.
He directed the officials to immediately shut down the water sports activity counter on the Calangute beach for charging exorbitant fees to tourists.
He also directed GEL to start a counter on the beach area from Monday and follow a queue system while conducting the water sports activities.
“We will not tolerate anyone who crosses the demarcation line drawn for all tourism related activities. Such action will continue on all the beaches in the State,” Khaunte said.
He pointed out to encroachments carried out by shack operators right up to the sea which inconveniences the tourists.
“Private shacks are given relaxation of 10 meters and government allocated shacks should put tables or beach beds within the width of the shack. People have encroached beyond the area. These instances are putting away the good tourists,” he said.
The surprise inspection was the outcome of the recent meeting of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo with the CM regarding illegal activities along the coastal belt.
After visiting Calangute, the tourism minister also conducted an inspection on the Vagator beach later in the evening.
Besides police and tourism officials, Calangute Sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira was also present during the Tourism Minister’s visit along Calangute coastal belt.
