the goan I network
PANAJI
With the new law which has been notified in the state, tourists and locals alike will have to refrain from drinking alcohol in public this Carnival. Under the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance (Amendment) Act 2019, people caught drinking in public will be fined Rs 2,000 for individuals, and Rs 10,000 for groups, Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar said on Wednesday.
Ajgaonkar, who was addressing a press conference prior to the Carnival, said that though Goa would welcome national and international tourists for the upcoming
Carnival, these tourists would not be encouraged to drink in public during the four day carnival, but that they should instead experience Goa’s culture and traditions.
“We have to show our culture during the Carnival, our “goykarponn,” he said, adding that the tourism department was trying to bring in as many national and international tourists as possible for this year’s Carnival.
“We treat tourists with the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. It is our duty to provide them with safety and security. But no one should come here and create chaos,” said Azgaonkar, adding that the new law was to safeguard Goa and its discipline.
“We will be strict about this and will soon have a phone and Whatsapp number for photos so that people can call authorities and report these offences,” he said.
` 3 cr allocated for fiesta of fun & frolic
PANAJI: The Tourism Department has allocated over Rs 3 crores for Carnival across the state this year, Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar said on Wednesday. While over Rs 1 crore 63 lakhs have been allocated for infrastructure and prizes, another Rs 1 crore 82 lakhs has been allocated for street decorations in all the cities the Carnival will be held.
The major four cities of Panjim, Margao, Vasco, and Mapusa have been allocated funds of Rs 20 lakhs each for Carnival infrastructure, and Rs 7,35,000 each for prizes by the government, Ajgaonkar said.
Meanwhile, the towns of Curchorem, Morjim, Ponda and Shiroda have been allocated Rs 10 lakhs each for infrastructure, and Rs 6,25,000 each for prizes. Ajgaonkar said that this amounts to Rs 1,63,40,000.
Meanwhile, Vinayak Decorators has been awarded the tender for decorations. Road side decorations have been allocated Rs 1,82,00,000 (1 crore 82 lakhs) said Azgaonkar.
Prizes will go to the floats which best depict Goa’s traditions. King Momo’s message to Goa for three days of eat, drink and be merry should be taken to mean “taste Goa’s fish, curry, rice,” he said.
The Tourism Minister from Zambia will be attending as he will be on an official visit to Goa at the time.
Try kaju feni: minister
PANAJI: Ajgaonkar encouraged tourists to try out kaju feni, , adding that our goykarponn lay in dance and music, which tourists should experience along with Goa’s temples, churches and natural beaches.
