PANAJI: In what is becoming a trend among tourists, yet another individual drove a car onto a beach, this time onto the Morjim beach. With images of the vehicle being circulated on social media, the tourism department directed Pernem police to file an FIR against the unidentified individuals. According to deputy director for tourism Dhiraj Vagle, the incident occurred on Thursday noon. The vehicle, a Toyota Innova Crysta, appears stuck in the sand at Morjim. Photographs of the Goa registered car, which is close to the high tide line, also showed three individuals. Morjim is a known Olive Ridley turtle nesting site and the government has banned all forms of activity that can disturb the turtles. The tourism department has also declared driving on Goa’s beaches as a nuisance as such activities can damage the tourism potential of Goa’s beaches. Incidents where tourists violate rules and drive in a reckless manner have become common in Goa. “One unauthorised vehicle bearing registration no. GA 03 Z 8474 was found to be recklessly and illegally driving at Morjim beach stretch,” said Vagle. He asked the police to file an FIR against the driver and vehicle owner under Section 188 of the IPC. Along with criminal proceedings, the guilty will also have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 extendible up to Rs 50,000.
PANAJI: In what is becoming a trend among tourists, yet another individual drove a car onto a beach, this time onto the Morjim beach. With images of the vehicle being circulated on social media, the tourism department directed the Pernem Police Station to file an FIR against the unidentified individuals. According to deputy director for Tourism Dhiraj Vagle, the incident occurred on Thursday noon time. The vehicle, a Toyota Innova Crysta, appears stuck in the sand at Morjim. Photographs of the car, which has Goa registration, showed three individuals besides the car which is close to the high tide line. Morjim is a known Olive Ridley turtle nesting site and the government has banned all forms of activity that can disturb the turtles. The tourism department has also declared driving on Goa's beaches as a nuisance as such activities can damage the tourism potential of Goa’s beaches. Incidents where tourists violate rules and drive in a reckless manner have become common in Goa. “One unauthorized vehicle bearing registration No GA 03 Z 8474 was found to be recklessly and illegally driving at Morjim beach stretch,” said Vagle. Vagle asked the police to file an FIR against the driver and owner of the vehicle under section 188 of IPC. Along with criminal proceedings, the guilty will also have to pay a fine of Rs 5000 extendible up to Rs 50000. Under the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act, the tourism department has prohibited several activities including cooking of food in open spaces, begging, driving on beaches, drinking in public, massages, unauthorized hawkers and selling of cruise tickets. In this case, the owner of the car is liable for fines to the tune of Rs 5000 extendible upto Rs 50000. Goa has witnessed several instances of tourists taking their personal vehicles and rented vehicles for a drive on the beach, often even driving into the water. In the past, several vehicles got bogged down in the sand and were even partially submerged in water.
PANAJI: In an effort to promote hinterland tourism, the government intends to start a spiritual circuit in Goa, offering tourists a peek into remote temples in Ponda, Canacona and Sattari. Making this announcement, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said that a homestay policy could be formulated linking the remote villages with the religious shrines that are part of the spiritual circuit. Khaunte, speaking at an awareness programme for waste management, said that Tambdi Surla and the Shri Mallikarjuna temple remain relatively unknown to tourists. “Goa used to be called the Kashi of the south, but today we have become so westernised that we can recognise the music playing at 1am and 2am but nobody knows about the 7pm aarti,” Khaunte said. He said that a homestay policy is already being drafted and will be released in the coming two months. “Through this policy...people who have an extra room, an extra floor or home, can give it to the foreign or an Indian tourist so they will come to learn our culture. This will benefit the rural economy,” Khaunte said. “Tourists go to Old Goa, Shantadurga and Mangueshi and that is the only Goa they see. From the Portuguese period, why did more temples come up in Ponda. The importance of the temple at Tambdi Surla and Saptakoteshwar...nobody knows this,” he added. The tourism minister also stressed on community living in rural parts of Goa. He said that Goans need to look with a long term vision for their future.
Panaji: In an effort to promote hinterland tourism, the government intends to start a spiritual circuit in Goa, offering tourists a peek into remote temples in Ponda, Canacona and Sattari. Making this announcement, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said that a homestay policy could be formulated linking the remote villages with the religious shrines that are part of the spiritual circuit.Khaunte, speaking at an awareness programme for waste management, said that Tambdi Surla and the Shri Mallikarjuna temple remain relatively unknown to tourists.“Goa used to be called the Kashi of the south, but today we have become so westernised that we can recognise the music playing at 1am and 2am but nobody knows about the 7pm aarti,” Khaunte said. He said that a homestay policy is already being drafted and will be released in the coming two months.“Through this policy...people who have an extra room, an extra floor or home, can give it to the foreign or an Indian tourist so they will come to learn our culture. This will benefit the rural economy,” Khaunte said.“Tourists go to Old Goa, Shantadurga and Mangueshi and that is the only Goa they see. From the Portuguese period, why did more temples come up in Ponda. The importance of the temple at Tambdi Surla and Saptakoteshwar...nobody knows this,” he added.The tourism minister also stressed on community living in rural parts of Goa. He said that Goans need to look with a long term vision for their future.
Panaji: Just a few days after a Russian woman was raped by two Nepali men, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte put out a cryptic statement calling on Goa police to ensure the safety of tourists. The minister, who was in Mumbai, did not refer to any specific incident and chose not to bring up the rape committed by the men who were employed at a hotel.“Tourist safety is a joint effort and the tourism department is confident that Goa police will ensure the safety of our guests by taking stringent action against unlawful activities that tarnish the image of Goa tourism,” he said.While the two men who allegedly committed the crime have been arrested, Goa Police has also been cracking down on violations of sound pollution norms, following an order of the high court. Personnel from the Pernem police station have registered a case under environment protection act against the owner and manager of a beach resort at Morjim for breaching the noise pollution limits. The organisers ofthe party have also been booked. Until the court order, the official machinery, especially the police, were alleged to have been ignoring complaints from local residents of noise pollution beyond 10pm.
PANAJI: Just a few days after a Russian woman was raped by two Nepali men, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte put out a cryptic statement calling on Goa Police to ensure the safety of tourists. Khaunte, who was in Mumbai, did not refer to any specific incident and chose not to bring up the rape committed by the men who were employed at a hotel. “Tourist safety is a joint effort and the tourism department is confident that Goa Police will ensure the safety of our guests by taking stringent action against unlawful activities that tarnish the image of Goa tourism,” said Khaunte. While Goa Police has arrested the two men who allegedly committed the crime, Goa Police has also been cracking down on violations of sound pollution norms. Personnel from the Pernem police station registered a case under environment protection act against the owner and manager of a beach resort at Morjim for breaching the noise pollution limits. The organisers of the party have also been booked. December marks the peak tourist season in Goa and Khaunte had recently asked stakeholders from the tourism industry to bring out the “best of our famous Goan hospitality” and to also ensure a safe, clean and joyful stay for tourists.
