Suggests online system to cut down the lengthy process for clearances
PANAJI
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has appealed to the State government to streamline the permission process in growing sectors such as MICE and weddings, by setting up an online application system managed by a single agency.
Goa is emerging as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE); and weddings but with multiple agencies involved in securing permission, the process gets tedious.
Lauding Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assurance to resolve issues surrounding the sound restrictions, TTAG also sought relief in this sector.
“We welcome CM’s statement on the government’s willingness to find a solution to extend sound permissions beyond 10 pm for events held in zones which do not affect residents,” TTAG President Jack Sukhija said while reeling out a list of permissions required by the organizers of the other two major sectors.
He revealed that an event organizer for MICE and weddings has to get NOCs from Fire and Emergency Services, PWD, Electricity, CRZ if in the CRZ area, Tourism, local bodies and the police, only after which the organizer applies to the respective Collector with further 6-8 affidavits for final permission.
To ease out the process, Sukhija has urged the CM to move the entire process online to an app with the ESG as the nodal body as is done for film shoots.
“Various copyright bodies charge exorbitant and arbitrary charges for the licenses. We request the CM and the home department to verify the legality of such agencies and if found to be to rationalize the rates. Such steps will help in facilitating the growth of the industry and add to the State’s economic growth, tax collection, and employment in line with the PM’s vision of making India and Goa a premier event destination,” he added.
CM Sawant on Wednesday had assured the State to find a solution to the existing sound restrictions in the wake of rising demands to grant extension in time, particularly Christian weddings.
