TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: After sparring over road work, pay-parking, bus bays and garbage collection. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Calangute Panch Joseph Sequeira have now locked horns over yet another issue. This time, it is over the extension of nightlife timings along the Calangute coast.
Sequeira has now criticized Lobo for requesting Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to extend nightlife timings, especially in the coastal villages.
Lobo had reportedly written to Parrikar to consider coming out with the corrigendum to the amendment of Central Excise to serve liquor in the premises till early morning before the code of conduct comes into force in the State.
Said Lobo, “Curtailment of nightlife due to the code of conduct in view of Lok Sabha polls will adversely affect tourism-related business in the coastal villages of Goa. Villagers of Calangute and surrounding areas in Calangute constituency depend on shacks, restaurants and hotels for their livelihood and if time restriction comes into force, it will kill business in the coastal belt of Calangute.”
“The government needs to come out with a Corrigendum at the earliest and much before the Code of Conduct comes into force and save the tourism business in the coastal villages or else, the tourism industry will be doomed,” he said.
Hitting out at Lobo’s arguments in favour of extended timings, Sequeira said the Calangute MLA did not know the ground reality of tourism industry, especially in Calangute.
“By trying to extend nightlife in the coastal villages of Calangute, etc, is he trying to bring prostitution and sale of drugs at night or early morning in Calangute,” asked Lobo.
“The activity that happens late at night is prostitution, with girls being ferried in cars and taxis from Arpora-Nagoa, Parra and surrounding villages. Is our Calangute MLA interested in further tarnishing the name of Calangute with full-fledged prostitution? The MLA is well aware of the illegal activities at night but instead of keeping a check on such activities, he is trying to give a boost to the illegal trade in the name of tourism,” charged Sequeira.
“We don’t want an extended nightlife, but normal timings in the interest of locals and safety of the tourists visiting Calangute and Baga,” added Sequeira.
