The Governor of Goa, P S Sreedharan Pillai has made an objective to visit all Goan villages to ‘get a true picture’ of Goa and their problems. However, after the visit to a couple of villages he said he will promote hinterland tourism. Now, he says he will write a book about Goan villages! Hopefully, he does not wish to be the first to disclose hidden tourist spots to Indian tourists. In 2018, the Collector banned sale of liquor in Surla on the complaint of women from the village that tourists were harassing womenfolk when under the influence of liquor. There are no police outposts, nor sewage treatment plants in villages. First off, it is not his prerogative to decide that entire Goa must be made to pursue tourism alone. That is the prerogative of the people. Unfortunately, the elected in the villages are trying to paint a rosy picture of life. The papers still report the miserable life of coastal villagers subjected to late night noise pollution. As also the huge number of illegal massage parlours which are fronts to prostitution. Further, these establishments are near residential homes with young impressionable minds.
R Fernandes, Margao
