Team Herald
Porvorim: The Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a bill on tourism imposing a ban on drinking and cooking in open, violators of which would be fined Rs 2000 (individual) and Rs 10,000 (group) each.
Tourism minister Manohar Azgaonkar had introduced the Bill ‘Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001’ inserting a new section 9A in the House on Wednesday. With the passing of the Bill, any person violating the provisions of sub-section (1) will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 2000 and in case of group violation then fine of Rs 10,000 to the competent authority or any other officer authorized by the government.
The Bill also directs that no person engaged in business of sale of liquor will allow its customer to carry bottles/cans containing liquor in tourist places.
The Assembly also passed amendment to the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 2019, making it mandatory for hotels or other tourism business establishments to register with the department under the said act if it wants to provide its services online.
As per the Bill, no person will now be allowed to carry on the business of providing service of online booking of hotel rooms, other accommodation or any other tourist related activity in the tourist areas unless registered in accordance with the provisions of the said Act.
Amendment to the Goa Public Health Act was also passed wherein to improve cleanliness and make the State open defecation free, clean and sanitized. The Bill, introduced by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane makes it compulsory for house owners who rent out their places to provide toilet facility to their tenants.
Goa Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 moved by Minister Govind Gaude was also passed wherein increase in the age limit of the chairperson was proposed.
