Will convince taxi lobby about app services: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo

Times of India | 4 hours ago | 03-10-2022 | 06:21 am

CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Sunday said the state government will take all taxi owners associations into confidence while launching more app-based taxi services in Goa. Responding to media queries about transport minister Mauvin Godinho’s statements that more app-based taxi services will be starting from November, Lobo said that the state government will hold meetings to convince taxi owners to be a part of the system. Taxi owners have in the past been opposed to app-based taxi services, with the Calangute-based North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association even launching agitations to stop Uber and other taxi services. There are also frequent clashes between taxi owners and GoaMiles operators. “I have spoken to the CM about this and he has told me he will take a meeting with all taxi leaders from north and south together and local taxi drivers and owners will be taken into confidence, because finally we don't want to bring taxis from Maharashtra or Karnataka. Taxis have to be of our locals,” Lobo said. “Protecting our local Goans is very important and the CM has given his assurance. I will also meet Godinho. Even in his constituency unemployed youth have taken taxis. He will support them.The CM and he will work on a larger angle where they are also a part of it,” he said.

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Have written to CM for reduction in shack fees: Lobo

Times of India | 6 hours ago | 03-10-2022 | 04:59 am

Times of India

6 hours ago | 03-10-2022 | 04:59 am

Calangute: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Sunday said that he has handed over a memorandum to chief minister Pramod Sawant asking for reduction in beach shack fees because of the uncertainty over the arrival of foreign charter tourists. He also said that tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has assured him that the fees will be reduced. Lobo said the shacks reliant on foreign tourists have not been getting business with no charter flights in the last two seasons. “Till now there is no sign of foreign charters. They have asked for (landing) slots but till now there is no confirmation,” he said.

Goa government not doing enough against drug trade: Congress

Times of India | 2 days ago | 01-10-2022 | 10:51 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 01-10-2022 | 10:51 am

PANAJI: Former North Goa Congress president Vijay Bhike, on Friday, said that the state government has not been doing enough to contain the spread of the narcotics trade. Referring to the recent seizure of 3kg of black cocaine at Mumbai airport, which was to be routed to Goa, he said that the state police only do minor seizures and mostly ganja. The seizure at Mumbai airport indicates how big the problem is, he added. “The government has been sleeping. Its main target is to break and destroy the opposition,” Bhike told reporters during a press conference held at Mapusa. The arrests of a few small peddlers will not end the problem, he said, while urging the government to handle the issue with seriousness. He further alleged that drugs have spread to the villages of Goa particularly during the tenure of BJP’s coastal MLAs.

Goa fixes 25% minimum reserve price of iron ore rate for mines auction

Times of India | 2 days ago | 01-10-2022 | 06:29 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 01-10-2022 | 06:29 am

PANAJI: For the first time in Goa’s history, the state government will make a windfall from the auctioning of the mining blocks, as it has fixed 25% as the minimum reserve price of the iron ore rate for bids to the three North Goa blocks, while it is 15% for the South Goa mine. The iron ore price per tonne will be decided by the Indian Bureau of Mines and will depend on the market rate. For instance, if the bureau of mines fixes Rs 100 per tonne for a North Goa mine as per the prevailing market rate, and a bidder succeeds to get the mine at the base price of 25%, the successful bidder will have to pay Rs 25 per tonne to the state government for the ore exported. This is in addition to other taxes and royalty. A senior government official said if there is an average bid of 40% for the four blocks, and mining companies export iron ore worth Rs 10,000 crore, the state government will earn revenue of Rs 4,000 crore. “The mining blocks are auctioned on a revenue-sharing model,” he said. TOI was first to report on Friday that four mineral blocks will be up for auction — Bicholim, Sirigao-Mayem and Monte de Sirigao in North Goa, and Kalay in South Goa. The state has estimated iron ore resources at the Monte-de-Sirigao mineral block at over 9 million tonne, Sirigao-Mayem mining block at over 23 million tonne, Kalay mineral block at over 20 million tonne, and Bicholim mineral block at over 85 million tonne. “We will put auctioning of mining leases on the fast-track. We will auction all the remaining leases as and when the documents are ready,” chief minister Pramod Sawant said. The state government has set a target to select the successful bidder by December 21. Before commencing activities, any successful bidder has to obtain a range of approvals—forest clearance for the leased area, wildlife clearance (sanctuary, reserve, or special zone clearances), environmental clearance, consent to establish, explosive licence, permission for mine opening, permission of installation or trial operation of equipment, groundwater clearance (centre/state), gram sabha consent, consent to operate, approval of mine plan from IBM, among others. As per the state government records, the lessee of the Monte de Sirigao mine was Rajaram Bandekar (Sirigao) Mine Pvt Ltd, while Sesa Mining Corporation was the lessee of Bicholim mines, N S Narvekar of the Kalay block and Chowgule & Co Pvt Ltd of the Sirigao-Mayem block. The total concession area of the Sirigao-Mayem block is over 171 hectare, the Kalay block is over 179 hectare, the Bicholim block over 478 hectare and the Monte de Sirigao block over 95 hectare. MSTC Ltd, a central government enterprise, will conduct the auctioning of the mining leases for the state government. The state government appointed MSTC to save time, ensure transparency. Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018, following the decision of the Supreme Court to quash the second renewal of 88 mining leases.

Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao new leader of opposition in Goa assembly

Times of India | 2 days ago | 30-09-2022 | 07:33 pm

Times of India

2 days ago | 30-09-2022 | 07:33 pm

PANAJI: Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday recognised Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao as leader of opposition. The post became vacant following the defection of Alemao’s predecessor and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo to BJP. Alemao, a first-time MLA, was recently recommended as leader of opposition by Congress. Lobo was one of eight MLAs, including former CM Digambar Kamat, to join BJP. After Kamat and Lobo had planned to switch sides, Congress decided to change the leader of opposition, but Lobo continued in the post till he joined BJP.

Not all shacks are winners along Calangute-Candolim beach belt

Times of India | 3 days ago | 30-09-2022 | 04:28 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 30-09-2022 | 04:28 am

Calangute: Beach shack owners in far-off areas along the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt are unsure of starting operations in the coming season because of uncertainty over the arrival of foreign charter tourists this year too.This will be the third season in a row when there are questions over the arrival of foreign charter tourists, who make up the bulk of customers for beach shacks in many isolated parts of the Calangute-Candolim beach stretch. These are the spots with no proper road access and are away from the main Calangute-Baga popular beach spots, which see a high domestic tourist footfall.After the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020 forced shacks to shut down early, they suffered further losses in the 2020-21 season. Although 2021-22 started hopefully, the war in Ukraine ended up dashing any hopes of revival in foreign charter arrivals for the state. This year too, with Europe in turmoil, expectations are low. “Last year many shack owners did not pay the license renewal fee and did not set up shacks because of the losses in the previous season. This year, the tourism department has given automatic renewal, but has increased the fees. I don’t think anybody in the areas dependent on foreign charter tourists will be interested in setting up shacks this season,” said Traditional Shack Owners’ Association president, Manuel Cardozo.Cardozo said that with the tourism department having started the process of renewing shack licences, many operators in prime areas of Baga and Calangute have already paid the increased fees, making it difficult for others, who have had no business in the last two seasons, to ask for reduced fees. “They should not have increased the fees. Just because we asked for an extension of one year in license doesn’t mean that they increase the fees,” he said. “Last year also, those affected couldn’t put up their shacks because they couldn’t pay the fees. Now, just before the start of the season, the government has increased the fees. People in Baga and Umtawaddo (Calangute) don’t mind paying more because they do better business,” he said.Although Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has urged the chief minister to reduce shack fees, stakeholders said with many operators having already paid the fees, they don't expect others in the isolated areas to get any relief. “The tourism department has played a trick. They first sent messages to owners in Baga and other prime areas to pay the license fees. And once the fees are already paid, it becomes difficult for others to ask for any reduction,” one stakeholder said.

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