Team Herald
PANJIM: As Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd has decided to not continue with beach cleaning beyond their agreement period with government, the Tourism Department has plunged into action seeking help from Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) till a new agency is appointed.
Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar has informed that GTDC’s project cell will assist the department into carrying out the activity until the tendering process for appointing a new beach cleaning contractor is appointed. Interestingly, the exercise will only cover the main beaches of Goa.
“Following moves by Drishti Lifesaving to discontinue beach cleaning services since Tuesday, the Department of Tourism with the assistance of the Project Cell of GTDC will work on interim measures for beach cleaning as the State is in the midst of the tourism season. The Department will work out solutions within a day or two and cleaning of important beaches will be undertaken on top priority immediately,” he said in a press statement issued on Thursday.
The Tourism department had recently floated tenders for appointment of a new beach cleaning agency. The minister said that an action plan to deploy labourers to clean up important beach stretches is underway and this task is expected to commence within the next two days.
Drishti, which is carrying out beach cleaning since December 2016, stopped its activity from November 12 citing end of the service agreement with the Tourism Department. A spokesperson said that the Department of Tourism was informed about it several days ago but since it received no further intimation, the agency decided to stick to its agreement terms.
The government has termed Drishti’s move as unfortunate considering that Goa is witnessing tourist footfalls which is expected to increase during the peak season.
“It is unfortunate that the agency withdrew at a time when the tourism season is at its peak,” the minister reacted as he chaired a high level committee meeting on Wednesday which was attended by Tourism Secterary Sheo Pratap Singh, Tourism Director Sanjiv Gadkar, GTDC MD Nikhil Desai and GTDC SPV official Pramod Badami among others.
Azgaonkar reiterated his commitment for cleanliness and hygiene on the beaches stating “Everything will be on track as soon as possible and I will also ensure that a permanent solution is found at the earliest and an agency will be put in place soon to undertake this task through a foolproof and transparent tendering process.”
