The gram sabha of Khola has decided to re strict the issuance and re newal of trade licences and no-objection certificates (NOCs) for tourism-related businesses to local Goan operators, citing the need to protect livelihoods and economic opportunities within the village. Local villagers said the decision was taken after concerns were raised at the meeting that a grow ing number of non-Goan operators were entering the tourism sector in the village, leaving residents with limited employment and business prospects despite tourism activity in the area. During the meeting, it was resolved that licenc es and NOCs for tourism operations, including al lied activities, would not be granted or renewed for non-Goan operators. The gram sabha further agreed that the princi ple should extend to oth er business categories as well, unless a clear benefit to local residents could be established. Villagers also sought clarity on whether existing tourism operators were complying with documen tation norms, including the validity of licences and NOCs, and called for strict er scrutiny before any per missions were issued. The decision has drawn reactions beyond Khola, with several panchayat members from other vil lages and also former Zilla Panchayat (ZP) members from different parts of Goa praising the move and urg ing other villages to con sider adopting similar res olutions. This support has come against the backdrop of a wider concern expressed in several coastal and tour ism-heavy belts of Goa that operators from out side the State, often with stronger financial backing, are increasingly corner ing business and pushing local entrepreneurs to the margins. Returning to issues tak en up at the gram sabha, members also discussed sanitation concerns and resolved to conduct clean liness drives across all nine wards of the Kho la panchayat to address waste and hygiene issues in public areas. Residents further flagged the deteriorat ing condition of the Saleri bridge, warning that the structure appeared weak and unsafe. They urged the panchayat to take up the matter with the State gov ernment and seek urgent repairs, particularly ahead of the monsoon. The meeting also took note of a proposed wa ter pipeline from Kudai to Kazumoll, which villag ers said would help im prove water supply in the area once completed, and stressed the need for time ly execution of the project. Panch members said the resolutions adopted at the gram sabha would be for mally conveyed to the con cerned departments, add ing that follow-up would be pursued to ensure that the decisions taken in the public forum translated into action.
KHOLA GRAM SABHA RESTRICTS TOURISM LICENCES TO LOCALS
