MARGAO
A day after the uproar raised by the water sports operators, the Tourism department bulldozed its way into Cavelossim with heavy police protection to implement the digital queue system for the water sports operators.
Accompanied by a strong pose of policemen, the Tourism department officials and workers set up a makeshift kiosk again on the beach to facilitate the staff of Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL) to maintain the queue system digitally.
In protest, most of the water sports operators anchored their water sports boats on the beach, barring two operators. By noon, GEL had reported business of just three trips, two by Jet ski and a boat ride.
Agitating water sports operators pointed out that they have all stayed away from the operators in protest over how the Tourism department has gone about implementing the digital queue system through GEL.
“Today morning, tourism and GEL officials descended on the beach in the morning accompanied by a strong police force. Since it was clear that the Tourism department is all set to bulldoze with the GEL-operated queue system by using the police, we decided to anchor our water sports operators in protest,” informed a Cavelossim-based water sports operator.
Barring one operator, he pointed out that most of the water sports operators stayed away from the operations via GEL.
“We are opposed to the introduction of the queue system through GEL. We have made it clear to the government that we are very much open to the queue system, we have strong reservations about the operation of the queue system through GEL,” Roy said.
The water sports operators from Cavelossim and across the Salcete belt were scheduled to take stock of the situation arising out of the Tourism department’s decision to re-install the makeshift kiosk and man the queue system through GEL.
Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz made his presence felt on the beach in the morning after the water sports operators drew his attention to the decision by the Tourism department to erect the makeshift kiosk again.
Deputy Director of Tourism Rajesh Kale told The Goan on Friday evening that the makeshift kiosk was re-installed by the department to facilitate GEL staff to man the queue system digitally. “We are insisting on the queue system as per the orders of the High Court. Hence, the queue system is being put in place,” he added.
Kale said two water sports operators operating from Cavelossim beach have registered for the queue system operated by GEL. “Till afternoon, two jet skis and a boat ride operated through the GEL counter,” he added.
When his attention was drawn to the criticism that the Tourism department has not obtained permission from the Cavelossim panchayat to install the kiosk, Kale shot back saying: “Whatever procedure that is required to be complied with will be done.” He, however, hastened to add that the kiosk proposed to be set up at Cavelossim is a temporary structure and not a permanent one.
Queue system via GEL to be extended across Goa: Tourism dept
MARGAO:
Introduction of Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL) to man the queue system at the Cavelossim beach is just the beginning by the Tourism department.
Deputy Tourism Director Prakash Kale informed that the queue system via GEL will be extended across the State’s beach belt where water sports operations are taking place.
“We have decided to introduce the digital queue system operated by GEL step by step. We have started the digital queue system from Cavelossim and the same will be extended at the other beach belt,” informed the Deputy Tourism Director.
He said the queue system is being put in place as per the directions of the High Court. The Tourism officials, however, had no answer to the queries raised by the water sports operators on Thursday about why the department has roped in GEL to man the queue system.
“We have on more than one occasion conveyed to the Tourism department that we are following a queue system, but have reservations over the queue system manned by GEL. What right has GEL got to ask the water sports operators to produce our bank details, Pan card and GST details, which does not fall in their domain,” questioned the president of South Goa Water Sports Operators, Domingo Rodrigues.
