Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) continues to hunt for new sites for commercial operations of helicopter joyrides even as it hit out at attempts to politicize the issue. Two BJP MLAs and one former Congress MLA have been opposing the operations at Aguada and Arrossim.
GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral said that abrupt temporary stoppage of operations from Aguada helipad could impact tourism along this coastal belt.
“Candolim has lost a very good tourism initiative as the issue was unnecessarily politicized. On one hand there is a hue and cry that Goa needs to attract more tourists, but on the other hand tourism projects meant to encourage inflow of tourists are opposed. The issue is none other than political,” he told Herald.
A day after its official launch, the government was forced to suspend operations from the Aguada plateau bowing to pressure from locals, who staged anti-helicopter tourism agitation. The site was shifted to a starred hotel in South Goa where it again faces opposition.
GTDC is optimistic that full-fledged operations from Aguada will resume. “The government has not given up on Aguada. The helipad belongs to the government. It is a ready site for heli joy rides and also convenient for tourists. As there was opposition to this site, it was temporarily shifted to the alternative site,” Cabral said.
He said they are willing to sit across the table to clear any doubts. “The reasons for opposing helicopter rides are trivial and unfounded. Heli joy rides do not cause any noise pollution, nor does it damage the environment or cause any vibrations. The operating agency has all the required permissions for conducting the heli joy rides,” he added alleging that there is a trend to oppose any new projects in Goa.
