Team Herald
PORVORIM: Stating that a new era has begun for the mining sector, Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Monday said that e-auction of iron ore leases is a step towards ending the hardship faced by the mining dependents.
The Governor on Monday delivered his customary address on the first day of the Winter Session of the State Legislative Assembly wherein he went gaga over the State government’s achievements and programmes.
The Governor said that the government efforts to resume mining have finally borne fruits. He informed the House that four mining blocks — three in Bicholim and one in Sanguem Taluka are auctioned with an auction premium of 63.55 per cent, 99.25 per cent, 111.28 per cent and 86.40 per cent, respectively.
“All the successful bidders have made the upfront payment of 20 per cent that is Rs 43.19 crore,” he said adding ‘A new era has begun for the mining sector in Goa. This is a major step to ensure employment to locals and ending the hardship faced by the mining dependent workers’.
The Governor also said that the permission granted by the Supreme Court to auction the dump/rejected ore will initiate the process of starting of full-fledged mining in the State.
Further, Pillai said that Goa has been seeing a steady growth in tourist footfall after the COVID-19 pandemic, with 49.55 lakh domestic and 0.95 lakh international travellers arriving in the coastal State till September 2022.
“Goa tourism has been witnessing a steady growth in tourist arrivals, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, approximately 33.08 lakh domestic and 0.22 lakh foreign tourists preferred Goa as their tourist destination and in 2022 (till September), approximately 49.55 lakh domestic and 0.95 lakh foreign tourists visited the state,” Pillai said.
The Governor said that the State government has reduced the requirement of documents by 60 per cent for various tourism related services such as registrations for hotels, travel agents, water sports, tourist guides, photographers, deck beds and umbrellas, among others.
The State government has developed a mobile phone app for reporting activities such as illegal deck beds, tables, umbrellas, touting and movement of placement of hawkers, the governor said.
The Governor said that the newly commissioned Manohar International Airport at Mopa is going to be a game changer for tourism sector in the State.
“Air connectivity to Goa from within and outside India will improve significantly boosting tourism potential of the State,” he said.
Pillai further said Goa has been selected for hosting some of the G20 events, which will give the State an opportunity to portray its rich culture and hospitality.
“The event in the State, which is the most preferred tourist destination in the country, will provide a major boost to its economy, thereby handing an opportunity to showcase branding of Goan products at an international platform,” the governor added.
