MAPUSA
Slamming the attitude of opposing for the sake of opposition, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said the government has nothing to hide visa-a-vis the jetty policy and called upon all stakeholders to express their thoughts on the policy.
Khaunte also said the primary aim to formulate the policy was to bring certain regulations and curb illegalities in the trade.
“We have not implemented the jetty policy yet. We have placed the policy before the public for opinion suggestions/objections. We don’t want to hide anything or do anything else. People should come forward with their suggestions. I am ready for an open debate with the people on the policy,” Khaunte said.
The Tourism Minister was reacting to the opposition over the jetty policy in a gram sabha organised by the Calangute Panchayat on Sunday.
Continuing, Khaunte said the government was ready to sit across and talk to every person that is involved in tourism business and discuss the nitty gritties of the jetty policy.
“We will hold talks with all stakeholders. The Calangute panchayat or any other groups like the ramponkars should come forward and place their suggestions and objections on the policy before us,” he said.
He said with the closure of minning, tourism industry was the only major source of income for the government and therefore it was important that proper infrastructure was set in place for tourism to flourish in the State.
“If we want a golf course to attract high-end tourists, we have to ensure that we are offering the facility to those tourists,” he said.
He further said panchayats should come forward and place their suggestions and objections on the jetty policy and if it is justified, the government was ready to discuss.
The minister said there were instances where local panchayats blocked tourism-related facilities set up by the government.
“We created a parking facility and also set up tourist information counters in Ashvem and in Anjuna. Till today, we are not getting a trade licence from those panchayats. Why is the panchayat holding back the licence? It is income to the government and facility to the tourists. Isn’t it the responsibility of the panchayat to help us?” Khaunte asked.
He said the government as a facilitator and panchayat which is an autonomous body should work together to provide service to tourists.
