TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: For the first time in the history of the tourism ministry since 1982, major reforms have been initiated with delegation of powers to deputy directors and the constitution of separate zonal offices for the North and South districts in the State.
“This initiative will improve the functioning of the tourism department as far as major responsibilities for registration of various tourism trades, monitoring, vigilance, enforcement and clamping down on illegalities are concerned,” said a top official in the tourism department.
“Earlier the Tourist Trade Act of 1982 had vested all such powers with the director alone,” this official said virtually pointing out that it resulted in overburdening this head of department with administrative, enforcement and all allied tasks.
Herald was informed that the decision to introduce reforms was taken in the budget session of the Goa assembly and the same comes into effect within a couple of days after the same is notified.
“The notification has already gone for publication and is expected within the next few days,” he said.
According to the action plan, two zonal offices are proposed to be set up one each for North and South Goa and would be headed by respective deputy directors.
The South Zonal office will be located at the new Collectorate in Margao while the North zonal office will be at the headquarters in Panjim. The zonal offices would also be provided with staff.
It is now expected that all issues from registration of various trades under the Tourist Trade Act to renewal of licenses whether for hotels, water sports, shacks, tourist taxis and so on would be handled by the respective zonal offices. Even issues pertaining to violations, complaints, verifications, renewals, hearings would be handled by the respective zonal offices.
