Team Herald
PANJIM: The Department of Tourism has extended the date to submit suggestions, comments and objections to the Drafts Jetty Policy 2022 till October 15 this year.
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The Department of Tourism has invited suggestions and comments to the Drafts Jetty Policy so as to refurbish and strengthen nine jetties across the State for ferry services for local commuters and for tourism. However, the government’s initiative is facing stiff opposition from the villagers with gram sabha passing resolutions to withdraw the draft policy immediately.
One of the apprehensions expressed by the villagers is that these jetties are being expanded for coal transportation and not for passenger traffic.
The nine jetties which the government plans to refurbish for passengers are Aldona, Ribandar, Old Goa, Piligao, Banastarim, Rassaim, Durbhat, Shiroda and Sanvordem. It was almost three years ago that the government had decided to refurbish these jetties at an estimated cost of Rs 73 crore under the Centre’s Sagartat Samriddhi Yojana, only for commuters’ transportation.
But the refurbishing and redevelopment work of not a single jetty was undertaken due to opposition from the people.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had said that a jetty policy was required so as to bring transparency in creating tourism infrastructure such as passenger cruisers, water sports facilities, etc, to offer entertaining experiences for high-end tourists visiting the State. The policy will also mandate regulations and weed out illegalities, he had said.
