Environ Min fears pay parking project may result in unfortunate incidents

MARGAO
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has feared that the pay parking project at Colva beach could result in unfortunate incidents which does not augur well for a tourist area since the Tourism Department and the PWD have jurisdiction in the parking lot.

After giving a patient hearing to the delegation of fishermen and tourism stakeholders opposing the pay parking project, Sequeira promised to take up cudgels for the beleaguered stakeholders with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte. “I told the delegation that I cannot give any commitment to scrap the pay parking project. But, I have assured the stakeholders that I will take up their issue with the Chief Minister and Tourism Minister. Let’s see how we can resolve the issue,” he said.

He added: “The stakeholders contend that their business is down and if at all the charge is to be levied, it should be levied not against Goa registration vehicles, but vehicles from outside the State.”

The Minister, however, pointed out that he personally believes that the project may create more problems, resulting in unfortunate incidents at the tourism area. “The Tourism Department is supposed to be charging parking fees within the property owned by the department. I find it difficult how there can be proper demarcation of the areas belonging to the Tourism and the PWD, where the vehicles are parked,” he said.

He added: “Around 90 per cent of the vehicles are parking alongside the road owned by the PWD and not by the Tourism Department. I wonder how practical it is to differentiate between Tourism and PWD land. This could lead to unfortunate incidents, which should be avoided in a tourist area.”

Venzy calls for Colva gram sabha to decide issue

MARGAO: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has called for a gram sabha of the Colva village panchayat to discuss and decide on the controversial pay parking project at the Colva beach.

The MLA made the announcement after a delegation of businessmen from the tourist village called on Venzy at his office on Friday. The delegation explained to the Benaulim MLA how tourism would suffer in the event the pay parking is enforced at the world famous Colva beach.

Reports coming from the Benaulim MLA’s office revealed that the MLA gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured that the issue will be discussed and decided at the meeting of the Colva panchayat.