Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Green Brigade (GGB), an NGO, has objected to the draft Goa Tourism Master Plan 2018.
In a statement issued, GGB coordinator Avertino Miranda said, “We would like to raise serious concerns and objections on the disastrous impact this plan will have, if implemented, on Goa’s environment, heritage, land, sand dunes, mangroves and the entire eco-system, agriculture and the social fabric of the indigenous Goan people and therefore demand the immediate scrapping of this draft Goa Tourism Master Plan 2018.”
He said that instead of implementing the draft Goa Tourism Master Plan, a new plan should be evolved with people’s participation at the panchayat level so as to take into consideration the availability of local resources, manpower, utility services without disturbing the existing agriculture, fishing and other local traditional occupations.
“The tourism policy must ensure that the fruits of tourism development benefit the indigenous people instead of the current model of tourism which displaces local population of its lands and occupations,” the release states.
He said that the failure of the Goa Tourism Master Plan 2018 to evaluate and take into consideration the carrying capacity of Goa’s beaches, hinterland, hills, etc, clearly indicates that no proper thought has been given while drafting the plan.
“Any attempt to further promote “Mass Tourism” in Goa will have a disastrous impact on Goa’s environment, traditional occupations and Goa’s social fabric as it has happened in Hawaii and other tourist destinations in the world. Besides, the 7 million tourists coming into Goa (as per last year’s figures) is already causing havoc on the movement of the local population with limited road carrying capacity, impact on the limited local resources like water, power and our staple diet including fish,” the release states.
