PANAJI: Forest minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said that areas for camping will soon be created inside Goa’s forests for visitors. He said that such facilities will encourage more citizens to visit Goa’s wildlife sanctuaries and parks. Plans are also on the cards to upgrade infrastructure at Goa’s only bird sanctuary – Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary at Chorao. “Following discussions with forest department officers, we have decided to give thrust on development of forest eco-tourism within forest areas and forest parks. We will improve infrastructure of Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, build camping areas, jungle trails, etc,” said Rane in a tweet. Recently, he said that the Goa Forest Development Corporation will act as the nodal agency for all eco-tourism activities in the state. “We will carry out these activities with guidance from experts to ensure that people are more interested in and visit forest parks. Camping areas and jungle trails will be prioritised. We will create an entirely new ecosystem so that we can see the animals within the park,” said Rane. He said last week that Vinay Luthra and Raman K, who have served as principal chief conservators of forests in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, respectively, are being engaged to replicate sanctuary-based tourism models like those states in Goa. There are plans to develop jungle lodges like those in Karnataka’s forests and wildlife parks similar to those in Madhya Pradesh. A forest management plan is also being prepared for Goa.
Panaji: The Goa Forest Development Corporation will be the nodal body for all ecotourism activities in the state, forests minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday. Rane also said that jungle lodges like those in Karnataka’s forests and wildlife parks similar to those in Madhya Pradesh will now be developed in Goa. “In addition to its current responsibilities, Goa Forest Development Corporation will be in charge of all #ecotourism activities, as well as the management of forest parks under the @goaforests. It will serve as the nodal agency for these activities,” Rane tweeted on Thursday. The state forest development corporation is led by Rane’s wife and first time MLA from Poriem constituency Deviya Rane. Santosh Kumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden for Goa, will serve as the coordinating officer ‘to ensure that this transition goes smoothly’, Rane said. The minister said that former principal chief conservator of forests for Madhya Pradesh is being roped in to prepare the forest management plan for Goa. “The government will bring in experts such as Mr Luthra, instrumental in creating the successful jungle lodges in #Kabini (Karnataka) and has a vast knowledge in park management & development in forest areas, along with Mr Raman Ji former PCCF of Madhya Pradesh & former field director of Bandavgarh (MP),” Rane said. The latter will help Goa implement “the vision of the government, prepare a forest management plan and develop wildlife parks”, the minister said. Vinay Luthra in Karnataka and Raman K in Madhya Pradesh have served as principal chief conservators of forests.
Panaji: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday said the state government will act against illegal activities along the coastal belt while also assuring proper beach-cleaning management to provide clean and safe shorelines for tourists visiting Goa during the next tourism season. At a meeting with director general of police (DGP) Jaspal Singh, police officers and representatives of the tourism department, Khaunte said, “We have to work together to ensure that ‘atithi devo bhava’ (the guest is equivalent to God) is properly experienced. Unwanted harassment of tourists in the form of fines due to traffic violations on national highways, among other issues, has to be reviewed.” The minister called for better coordination between the Goa police, director of tourism, beach-cleaning agency and lifesaving agency to ensure that beaches are clean and safe for tourists. “We need to take immediate action against illegalities along the coastal belt. We will use technology to achieve smooth coordination and will also take the opinion of members of the general public to improve the experience at beaches during the coming tourism season,” he said. “Several issues have been irritating tourists, so if we want to amplify the message of clean and safe beaches, a lot needs to be done.” Khaunte highlighted the need for surveillance cameras to better manage beach-cleaning and for the requisition of better equipment to ensure safety at beaches. He said tourism stakeholders, including shack owners and those involved in watersports, should assist the state government with these initiatives.
PANAJI: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday said the state government will act against illegal activities along the coastal belt while also assuring proper beach-cleaning management to provide clean and safe shorelines for tourists visiting Goa during the next tourism season. At a meeting with director general of police (DGP) Jaspal Singh, police officers and representatives of the tourism department, Khaunte said, “We have to work together to ensure that ‘atithi devo bhava’ (the guest is equivalent to God) is properly experienced. Unwanted harassment of tourists in the form of fines due to traffic violations on national highways, among other issues, has to be reviewed.” The minister called for better coordination between the Goa police, director of tourism, beach-cleaning agency and lifesaving agency to ensure that beaches are clean and safe for tourists. “We need to take immediate action against illegalities along the coastal belt. We will use technology to achieve smooth coordination and will also take the opinion of members of the general public to improve the experience at beaches during the coming tourism season,” he said. “Several issues have been irritating tourists, so if we want to amplify the message of clean and safe beaches, a lot needs to be done.”
Margao: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the government has identified land in Sanguem for setting up the permanent campus for IIT-Goa. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ‘Sarkar Tumchya Dari’ programme in Netravali, Sanguem — the second edition of the government’s flagship programme — Sawant said that the process of verification of documents of the land was underway. “Once the documents are verified and everything is found to be in order, the location will be finalised. But definitely, Sanguem will be our preference for setting up the IIT,” Sawant said. Addressing the gathering, Sawant said that his government was committed to solving all difficulties and issues of the locals. He said that the issue concerning rehabilitation of some of the families displaced by the Salaulim dam that had remained unresolved over the years would also be addressed at the earliest. Sawant further said that all efforts will be made to ensure that this constituency comes into the mainstream of development. He said that all cases pertaining to Forest Rights Act and revenue land cases will be put on the fast track. “The government is concerned about every person of the state and treats every individual’s issue as its own,” Sawant said. “Sarkar Tumchya Dari was not just an election stunt, and that is why it will be continued for the next five years. It is an initiative to provide maximum administrative services as well as schemes and facilities to the people at their doorstep.” Sawant said that the government was of the opinion that every individual should get electricity, toilet, water, their own house, as well as financial and social security. “Every Goan should be self-sufficient and for that, united efforts of government, bureaucracy and public are required. People should also come forward to derive benefits and be self-sufficient. Government is making every effort to provide employment to its people in their constituency itself by way of self-employment,” Sawant said. Minister for social welfare, Subhash Phaldessai, said that the botanical garden at Salaulim dam will be developed at the cost of Rs 35 crores as an eco-tourism project.
Staff ReporterCurchoremChief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the state government has identified land for setting up of the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Goa) in Sanguem taluka.Stating that the taluka will be given preference in establishing the IIT-Goa campus, Sawant said land has already been selected and the related process in that direction has begun.The Chief Minister was speaking in Netravali after inaugurating the second edition of the flagship programme of the government ‘Sarkar Tumchya Dari’ or ‘Government at your Doorstep’ for the Sanguem constituency. Heads of about 38 government departments were present on the occasion.He said the government is committed to solve all the difficulties and issues of residents of the Sanguem taluka and added that holding the flagship programme in the taluka after the Assembly elections was the first step towards it. “This programme will continue for two days, as the Sanguem constituency is geographically vast,” he said.Assuring overall development of the constituency, Sawant said Sanguem comprises of tribal community and added that the government is committed to see that benefits of all the government schemes reach the community. Stating that 10,000 forest rights cases and 136 people have been issued sanads, he said other such cases and revenue land cases will be put on fast track.The Chief Minister also said that ‘Governance at your Doorstep’ programme was not an election stunt and that it will be continued for five years. “It is an initiative to provide maximum administrative services as well as schemes and facilities to the people at their doorstep,” he said.Appealing to the people to take benefit of the 121 schemes available online, Sawant said the government is making every effort to provide employment to the residents of the constituency by way of self-employment.Minister for Social Welfare, Subhash Phaldessai, who was present on the occasion, said the government is working on the concept of serving the last citizen of the society.Electricity, mobile network, drinking water, educational infrastructure, road network, other infrastructure, forest rights issue and issues of the people affected by the Selaulim dam are the major issues in the taluka and every effort is being made to resolve them, he said.Phaldessai informed that the botanical garden at the Selaulim dam will be developed at a cost of `35 crore under ecotourism. “Also, 40 cottages will come up in the constituency to provide facilities to tourists. Around 400 people will get employment in the next year through different projects, which are in the pipeline,” he said.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the programme, the Chief Minister said the government respects the verdict of the Supreme Court with regard to the double tracking project in the state.It may be noted that the apex court on Monday set aside the clearance granted by the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for double tracking of railway line from Castle Rock in Karnataka to Kulem in Goa.Accepting the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report on the Tamnar 400 kV High Tension Line passing through territory of the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary, the apex court agreed with the CEC’s recommendations on cancellation of the double track proposal for construction through the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.
