Team Herald
Panjim: Water sports operators, responsible for negligence while conducting the adventure activities will lose their licences for three years. The warning has been emphasized in the Policy for Regulation of Water Sports in Goa, notified by the State on Thursday.
“Any operator who causes harm/ injury/death to a tourists/ public/ third party on account of his actions/irresponsible behaviour/neglect of safety norms etc shall be punishable as per relevant provisions (of the law) as the case may be. Further the operator shall be debarred for a period of 3 years, in case he causes any death or grievous injury to any tourist/public, on account of his neglect,” the policy states.
The Policy also bans foreigners to work as an operator or instructor or as a partner without a valid work visa as well as the approval of Goa Government.
It adds that the govt can appoint Competent Agency or National Institute of Watersports (Centre) to prescribe safety standards and safety norms. The agency, it adds, as specified shall have the powers to issue safety certificate to water sports operators. “All water sports operators should possess safety certificate and produce such certificate for inspection whenever called for. All safety standard and norms laid down by NIWS or any other agency designated for that purpose, shall be strictly followed by all operators,” it stated.
The govt through its various departments has the right and control over water sports activities carried out over various water bodies including the inland water ways, dam reservoirs, lakes, rivers, ponds and the coastal waters.
The Tourism Dept will function as the Nodal Dept for the safe & smooth operations and regulation of the water sports while the related depts like Captain of Ports, Depts of Fisheries, River & Navigation, Police, WRD etc shall coordinate and assist the Tourism Dept in smooth discharge of its functions.
In case of hotels or chartered operators who operate water sports activities for their in-house guests exclusively, it should be done as per rates notified by the department, following the same safety standards and they shall not use the boats/vessels for public/tourists. “If the Hotel/their operator are found in violation of this norm, then the Dept will cancel the registration of such errant hotels/ operators. All such water sports activities shall commence only from zones exclusively designated for water sports activities and from no other place,” reads the notification.
The Tourism Dept has been given the authority to register or refuse to register an operator or a trade after considering its feasibility, impact, safety aspects, carrying capacity, past safety history of the operator, reasonability of rates being charged, etc in order to ensure safety of the visiting tourists.