Locals urge Deputy Collector to resolve livelihood crisis
People participating in a silent march to the Canacona Dy Collectorate.
CANACONA
The people, including political leaders, councillors, taxi drivers, and tourism stakeholders of Palolem, who had extended support to the protest, gathered at the Shiv Smarak outside the KTC bus stand and later proceeded in a silent march to the Deputy Collectorate in solidarity with the 63 tourism establishments that were sealed at Agonda beach-coast.
A memorandum was later submitted to the Canacona Deputy Collector to condemn the PIL, which was against the interests and livelihoods of people in Agonda village.
Speaking before the large crowd assembled at the KTC Bus Stand, Suraj Naik Gaunkar, one of the affected tourism stakeholders, made it clear that the protest was not against the government or any of its agencies.
“The protest is for our livelihood. Due to the closure/sealing of tourism businesses, locals/residents are in big trouble. It affects us a lot. The government should find a solution to this problem by giving justice to us all,” said Naik Gaunkar.
Suraj Naik Gaunkar and Pankaj Naik Gaunkar demanded that tourism and turtle conservation should go hand in hand.
“Through tourism, 25 people get employment in a shack. The problem of feeding other traders also associated with this business needs to be solved,” said Suraj.
Vikas Bhagat said the tourism structures sealed are about 300-500 metres away from the turtle conservation centre.
“Even those establishments where turtles do not go to lay eggs have been sealed,” said Vikas Bhagat, while warning that outsiders who have now started bullying Goans will not be tolerated.
President of the All Goa Private Property Shacks and Huts Association, Dharmesh Saglani, while briefing reporters outside the Canacona Deputy Collector’s office, said those who have filed the PIL are out for revenge and have taken the turtle conservation centre as a base, thereby killing the tourism business.
Saglani also appealed to Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar to pursue the matter with the State government.
CMC Councillor Shubham Komarpant, GFP Environment Cell Chairman Vikas Bhagat, Pankaj Naik Gaunkar, former Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot, Goa Forward Party General Secretary Prashant Naik, Mohandas Lolayekar, Congress leader Janardan Bhandari, Revolutionary Goans Party’s Prashant Pagi, CMC Councillors Shubham Komarpant and Simon Rebelo, office bearers of various social organisations, and others were present to support the march.
9 remaining tourism structures sealed
CANACONA: Shortly after hundreds of people participated in a silent protest march and submitted a memorandum to the Canacona Deputy Collector Madhu Narvekar, the nine remaining tourism establishments were sealed on orders of the high court.
Authorities had sealed 27 tourism structures each on Thursday and Friday, before taking a two-day weekend break.
Narvekar and a team proceeded to Agonda village late Monday morning and while there were 67 structures identified to be sealed, the GCZMA field team present could only identify 63 structures. Authorities later completed the sealing process of the remaining 9 tourism structures. Besides affixing a lock and seal of the Authority, authorities also disconnected electricity and water connections to the sealed structures, to prevent any misuse of the sealed properties for commercial activities.
According to sources, over 200 foreign tourists and an unknown number of domestic tourists were staying in these 63 tourism structures, when the High Court passed the order and authorities took up the sealing process a day later. These tourists were either relocated elsewhere or were requested to check out from these structures.
