Control evils to make tourism industry impregnable: CM
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, MAY 8
Expressing concern over the fact that along with development, tourism brings in evils, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that there is a need to tackle and control these evils to make tourism industry in Goa impregnable.
Kamat was speaking as chief guest at the seminar on Development Issues in Goa: A Media-Government Interface organised by the International Centre-Goa in association with Goa Union of Journalists, Media Information and Communication Centre of India and Friedrich Ebert Stiflung-India at Dona Paula today.
Kamat further said that growth has to take care of the poorest man in the society and the benefits of growth have to go more to the common man.
On development, Kamat said compared to the many other states, Goa is far better in terms of road network, drinking water facility, power and other amenities. However, he said, there is tremendous scope for improvement.
Speaker Pratapsing Rane, in his speech, expressed concern over environment protection. “There is not much difference between our urban areas and our villages barring a few villages in the remote areas,” he said and added that Goa has the highest per capita income and best indicators in the country, yet we have problems.
On garbage front, Rane called for a mechanism to take care of plastic waste. “Taking up re-cycling of plastics should be seriously taken up,” he said.
He also highlighted the issues of drugs, illegal constructions and others. On Migration, Rane said that Goans are only after clerical jobs in government and therefore are deserting their traditional professions which are taken up by the migrants who are doing well in these professions. Rane also felt the need of vocational education in school connected to tourism industry.
Goa Union of Journalist President Prakash Kamat and FES-India’s Media Advisor Rajeshwar Dyal also spoke.
ICG Director Nandini Sahai welcomed the gathering while MICCI Trustee Collin Curry proposed a vote of thanks. Arjun Halarnkar compered the inaugural session.
Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, Secretary to the CM Raajiv Yadvanshi, DC & Secretary (Information & Publicity) Narendra Kumar, Secretary (Sports) Dr M M Modassir, Secretary (Industries) V K Jha, Director of Information & Publicity Menino Peres and others were present.
