Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Sinquerim locals have stopped Goa Tourism from cleaning the helipad in the village out of fear that the helipad would be used for adventure tourism, which they claimed would disturb the peace in the village.
Calangute PSI Manguesh Volvoikar has directed Goa Tourism (GT) to remove the machinery used for cleaning, while former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes and Candolim Sarpanch Sandra Fialho backed the locals and demanded that the panchayat be informed before carrying out developmental works in its jurisdiction.
Sinquerim residents were in for a rude shock on Thursday, when they saw men and machinery employed by GT cleaning the helipad area allegedly for helicopter joyrides as part of adventure tourism. They stated that such activities would disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the vicinity and claimed that they had never seen GT cleaning other parts of their tourist village.
The locals, led by Fernandes, Fialho and Candolim panchas, asked GT to stop the work that was being carried out against their wishes. The GT officials directed the labourers to stop the work and move out the machinery.
“We were told that some developmental activity is taking place for helicopter rides, with GT officials at the site and labourers engaged to clean the area. Helicopter activities will disturb this peaceful area and cause hardships for the locals. We will not allow the project to take off as it will affect us more than anyone else,” said Jose Paul Silveira, a local.
Meanwhile, PSI Manguesh Volvoikar stated that GT has been asked to clean the area for the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on January 31.
Confirming the PSI’s statement, GT Assistant Engineer Balakrishnan stated, “I have been assigned the task of cleaning up the area for the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. However, the area may be put to use for adventure tourism later on.”
Addressing the press, ex-MLA Fernandes said, “GT did not take the Candolim panchayat into confidence while carrying out the work at the helipad site. The site is a peacock habitat and is very close to a historic fort, which has been protected for years. The government is trying to give a backdoor entry for a private party for adventure tourism. So many guesthouses are there in Candolim, which will also be inconvenienced by helicopter activities. There will be a mini-airport in Sinquerim. We will not allow the government to go ahead with helicopter rides in Sinquerim.”
Fialho echoed his statements and added that the Candolim panchayat had been kept in the dark over the developmental activity in its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, a local stated, “GT has never thought of cleaning the area, which is littered with waste. The same was done by the locals. Today, they have come to clean the area for helicopter activities, which will disturb the peace in the village. Tourists may stop visiting Candolim because of disturbances. Tourists long for peace while on holidays with their families.”
