MARGAO
Colva Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes on Tuesday came out strongly against motor paragliding on Colva beach, saying the sport is not at all feasible in a crowded location such as Colva.
The Colva Panchayat conducted an inspection of the beach on Tuesday following an application made by a party seeking an NOC to operate motor paragliding at Colva beach.
After the inspection, the Colva Sarpanch stated that motor paragliding is not at all feasible at Colva beach for the simple reason that the beach is crowded with visitors. That’s not all. The Sarpanch recalled an accident caused by motor paragliding that left a tourist couple permanently disabled. The inspection report will be presented before the panchayat body meeting for a decision.
“We found during the site inspection that there is little space left to operate motor paragliding at Colva beach due to the presence of beach shacks. This issue has been raised at the Colva gram sabha, where members led by Simon Rodrigues highlighted concerns over the safety of visitors to the beach,” she said.
The Sarpanch pointed out that the panchayat body is fully supportive of tourism promotion, but cautioned that tourism cannot be promoted at the cost of human life.
Colva resident Simon told the media that he was invited by the panchayat for the inspection since he had previously raised complaints about motor paragliding at Colva beach. “Colva beach is an iconic beach and not a beach for motor paragliding. A German couple was left permanently disabled after his fingers were severed by motor paragliding. This has to stop immediately, or we need to designate a beach specifically for motor paragliding,” he said.
Simon made a fervent plea to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to ensure that tourists leave Goa with sweet memories of their visit and not go back with their fingers severed from their palms.
