TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Speaking on the first day of the monsoon session, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Tuesday promised he would blacklist visas of foreigners involved in illegal activities, even as he admitted that their deportation was not all that easy. Parrikar also warned that harassment of tourists by local taxi operators would not be tolerated.
Expressing his resolve to set up a permanent squad to drive out foreigners illegally staying in the State and stop their illegal business before the upcoming tourist season, Parrikar said, the squad will report to him and the tourism department so that corruption and lethargy can be avoided.
Parrikar made these assurances after some legislators pointed out that several foreigners were illegally carrying out variety of businesses in the State, right under the nose of the law enforcement agencies.
A calling attention motion tabled by BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo pointed out that foreign nationals on tourist visas were illegally operating as tourist guides, taxi operators and even running restaurants and private shacks, which has ultimately deprived employment to local youth.
However, the Chief Minister cautioned that deportation of foreigners, who are involved in various illegal activities, wasn’t easy. “It is easy to demand deportation of foreigners, but it is not easy (to deport them). The solution is to blacklist their visas,” he said while responding to the calling attention motion.
Lobo pointed out that Russians and Ukranians come as tourists and work as guides and carry out businesses illegally. “This has deprived Goan youth of employment… I want specific assurance from the CM on resolving the issue,” he stated. He also accused the police for accepting bribes to protect those involved in illegalities.
Parrikar conceded that Goa police has failed to strictly implement existing laws. “I agree with the (local) sentiments to deport the illegal foreigners…but let us work out a strategy, a permanent solution,” Parrikar said.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte sought to know whether laws could be amended to implement harsh punishment to those involved in illegalities, to which the chief minister replied in the negative.
A total of 27 foreigners, including 23 Russians have faced action after being caught doing illegal activities in the last one and half year, while 14 were fined ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 for illegal touting and illegally operating adventure sports.
