MARGAO
As a storm hit the tourist village of Cavelossim after the Tourism Department introduced Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL) to digitalise the water sports queue system with pre-determined rates, water sports operators from the entire coastal belt joined hands in unison, questioning what GEL has got to do with the business of water sports run by the traditional fishermen.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz also rallied behind the beleaguered water sports operators and got the Tourism officials to remove and lift away the makeshift counter erected on the Cavelossim beach to man the queue system.
The water sports operators made it clear to the Tourism officials led by a Deputy Director that they adhere to the High Court directions to maintain a queue system. They, however, charged the Tourism Department for bringing in GEL to overcharge the customers patronising the water sports business.
The water sports operators questioned why GEL should charge extra money from the water sports business when the business has been promoted by the local fishermen through their sweat and blood and own investment.
Trouble began when the Tourism officials moved in at the Cavelossim beach with GEL and erected a makeshift tent with computers and a rate chart for the water sports activities, triggering huge protests from the local water sports operators.
As heated discussions ensued between the Tourism officials and water sports operators, the operators demanded to know whether the High Court has issued any directions to engage GEL in maintaining the queue system. “Why do we require GEL to run a queue system when we have invested our own money, we canvass for business and engage our own manpower to run the water sports,” questioned Colva-based water sports operator John Fernandes.
When the tourism official sought to defend GEL’s involvement by saying the Court has issued directions to maintain queue system for water sports operators, John point blank questioned whether the Court has directed department to engage GEL in maintaining the queue system, saying the Court has not called for disbanding the manual queue system.
President of South Goa Water Sports Association Domingo Rodrigues questioned why GEL has asked the water sports operators to submit their bank details and GST payment, saying GEL has nothing to do with the taxation issue. He charged the Tourism department for trying to introduce GEL with the sole objective to bring in Delhi people into the water sports business run by the Goan fishermen.
He also took exception to the disruption of the water sports business at Cavelossim beach by the Tourism officials during the last two days, reminding that a single day loss of business would cause huge losses to the operators. “We water sports operators charge Rs 1000 for para-sailing, but GEL has come out with its own rate at Rs 1240. Why should the tourists pay extra for the same facility which we have been providing all along,” Domingo added.
Cavelossim-based water sports operator Roy Barretto said that government’s decision to bring in GEL would spell doom for the water sports business. “GEL has come out with rates, which are more than what the operators are charging. Secondly, the water sports operators give discounts to customers, which come in groups. How would we adjust if GEL is in the picture and want customers to pay pre-determined rates,” Roy questioned.
