ASSERTS CENTRE WILL LOOK AT GOA’S TOURISM NEEDS DIFFERENTLY
MARGAO
With Union Minister Shripad Naik given charge of Tourism at the Centre and with Assembly elections just six months away, Goa can look forward to a special package from the Centre to boost its infrastructure given its status as the world’s tourism destination.
Asserting that the Centre would come out with a package to give a boost to Tourism, the newly-appointed Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on Wednesday, said the
Centre would certainly look at Goa differently for the development of infrastructure, given its status as the world’s famous tourist destination.
He has mulled early completion of the tourism projects which he had proposed in Goa during his previous stint as Union Minister of State
for Tourism.
“Definitely, there will be a special package for Goa,” Shripad said while interacting with the media on the sidelines of a seafarers’ function here on Wednesday.
He said many a project, which he had proposed for Goa in the past, would be taken to its logical conclusion. This includes the water sports institute at Caranzalem and the catering college
at Farmagudi.
“The water sports institute at Caranzalem, which was proposed by me in the past, is pending. The project will be expedited and taken to its logical conclusion,” he said.
Similarly, Shripad said the proposed catering college at Farmagudi, which was to be funded by the centre, has been pending for a long time now. Saying the college project will see the light of day, the minister said the process will soon be set in motion to float a tender in the next couple of days.
While mulling new tourism projects in Goa, the Union Minister said he would discuss with the Goa government the nature of infrastructure project it wants in the state and how to go about
getting these.
Asked whether the Centre will come out with a special package to revive tourism adversely affected by Covid, Shripad underscored the need for a package for tourism, saying the pandemic has hit tourism across the country and whenever a policy is unveiled to bail out the sector, Goa will figure in the policy for a package.
When questioned whether Goa will be eligible for a special tourism package, Shripad said one should not forget that Goa is a famous tourist destination. The government will have to view Goa’s requirements differently to boost tourism, he added.
He added: “Whatever is lacking in the state in terms of infrastructure will be taken up with the Centre for sanction. Goa will certainly deserve special package to review the tourism sector.”
To a question on the fate of the Ayush projects initiated by him in Goa, Shripad said the All India Institute of Ayurveda will see the light of day at Dhargal within a year.
He said work on the South Goa district Ayush hospital at Monte Hill, Margao, is in progress. He exuded confidence of commissioning the project at the earliest. He said the second district hospital in North Goa will come up after the land issues are resolved.
The Union Minister said the ground floor of the Ribandar hospital will play host to an ODP, besides a 20-bedded mental hospital.
