PORVORIM: Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar added fuel to fire by making a categorical statement that whatever the case may be he will not allow any other department to interfere in “beach cleaning”.
Ajgaonkar, who holds the Tourism portfolio, and newly appointed Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo are at loggerheads over the beach cleaning issue. Lobo has been demanding that all kinds of waste should come under the newly formed Waste Management Department.
However, replying to the cut motions on Tourism and Sports, Ajgaonkar made a statement that he would not part with beach cleaning. “Michael can take all types of waste but beach cleaning is my right,” Ajgaonkar said.
He said that tourists come to Goa for its beaches and hence he does not want to take any risks. “I want transparency, we will not allow nuisance on beaches or mess,” he said.
The Tourism Minister also said that the only reason behind the fall in foreign tourist arrivals was the high visa fees. “After the slowdown we investigated the reason and found out that visa fees were becoming too costly,” he said.
Ajgaonkar said that the visa issue is beyond the control of the State government. “The visa fees have to be decided by the Centre and we have already taken up the issue with them and they were positive about it,” he said.
