GTDC fails to erect kiosks to sell tickets
The government’s tall claims to regulate water sportsactivities in the State have remained just that.
More than a month after the State government passed the watersports policy nothing has changed on the ground.
The state cabinet on October 18 approved the water sportspolicy promising to put a queue system in place, so that all water sportsoperators get a fair amount of business by rotation.
The policy was announced in the backdrop of an interim HighCourt order directing the tourism department to regulate water sportsactivities by enforcing a queue system across Goa’s beaches.
Under the policy the Goa Tourism Development Corporation hadto install fully-functional kiosks, which will dispense tickets and ensurecollection of ticket fees inclusive of all taxes, at one point. The same kioskswill also be used as police counters and information points for tourists.
Since the government failed to erect a kiosk, the members ofthe Calangute Water Sports Association have started their operations sinceOctober 24. This ensures that the same system prevails, as was in the past.
“We were informed that a counter would start but nothinghappened. We therefore commenced operations on our own, as the departmentfailed to take interest in its own policy,” said Bernard Coutinho, a member ofthe association.
The policy also states that any water sports operator foundviolating the system or operating water sports equipment in an unauthorizedarea will be treated as creating nuisance under the Goa Tourists Places(Protection & Maintenance) Act, 2001 and all violators were supposed to beprosecuted under Section 10 of the Act.
But till date no action was seen on ground zero as GTDC hasso far neglected the same.
When The Goan contacted the officer in charge from tourismdepartment looking after regulation of water sports policy, Asst Director,Gracious Flor said: “The government decision to erect kiosk is pending but itwill certainly come up.” He however was unable to comment as to when the samewould happen.
