TOURISTS are not going to throng Goa if they do not get internet! This thought came with what took place when the Electricity department cut the cables, after the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court refused to grant interim relief to internet service providers, before hearing their case in court. Being deprived of internet is being deprived of food for the mind, so that businessmen and others are unable to communicate with their customers or partners.
More than a week ago, a division bench, comprising Justices M S Karnik and Nivedita Mehta, declined to grant any interim relief before hearing the petitioner. Senior advocate Tapan Sen who said he was not ready to argue the matter, had sought interim relief, saying the association proposes to make a representation to the government.
“It is made clear that if such a representation is made, it may be looked into by the respondents on its own merits, and the pendency of this petition shall not come in the way of respondents in considering the representation or issuing any directions thereon following the law,” the bench stated.
Following this refusal to grant interim relief, the executive engineer, Kashineth Shetye of the Electricity Department, supervised the cutting of illegal cables which were intertwined around poles in Panjim city and elsewhere. Interestingly, Shetye was in the news some years ago for seeking leave while filing PILs in the high court.
IN a separate and unrelated development, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) proposed developing a river cruise circuit along River Sal connecting Cavelossim-Betul Fort and Betul lighthouse. A total of three floating jetties are proposed for development.
The Authority, at the same time, has dropped its plan to go ahead with the proposed cruise circuit covering Britona Jetty–Aldona Jetty along Mapusa River as the area does not have any major tourist attractions. The IWAI has been pushing the idea of interlinking all the rivers in India to make them navigable. It is much cheaper to transport goods and passengers through the inland rivers than by road or perhaps rail which is much cheaper than road transport.
The IWAI during its meeting held earlier last week, reviewed the progress of three river cruise circuits sanctioned for Goa. During the meeting, the Authority noted that a budget river cruise circuit was proposed connecting Britona Jetty–Aldona Jetty along Mapusa River. However, since Aldona is well connected by road network and there are no major places of tourist interest, it was decided to drop the proposal for now.
TOURISM forms the backbone of the Goan economy. It is to attract international and domestic tourists that the casinos were started by politicians with the backing of successive governments in Goa. A few hundred crore of rupees are generated through these casinos which are both floating casinos on the River Mandovi and on land casinos near the riverfront. The hippie menace was supplanted by these casinos which generate both legal and illegal funds through roulette and other gambling.
Goa and Sikkim are the only two states in India where casinos flourish and gambling is legal. Other methods of gambling such as matka and satta are illegal throughout India. Horse racing is permitted at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai.
To return to the IWAI, the Authority has taken up the development of a cruise circuit at the Upstream Morjim – Colvale Dhargal bridge on Chapora river. Two floating jetties in the river for cruise tourism have been considered. The river cruise is proposed to Alorna Fort.
IWAI also noted that the river cruise circuit connecting the tourism jetty Patto-Chorao Island-Old Goa-Divar Island-Cortalim along the Cumbharjua canal and Mandovi River is currently operational.
The Authority noted that 10 additional floating jetties on the Cumbharjua Canal, Mandovi and Zuari river are awarded and the same is expected to be completed by June, this year.
Also, the dredging of both the Cumbharjua canal and Mandovi River has been planned for smooth navigation.
THE Authority has now proposed a cruise circuit at Sal River and three floating jetties are proposed for the same connecting Cavelossim-Betul Fort-Betul lighthouse.
Meanwhile, the Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues informed that IWAI has proposed to develop a water metro transport system in Goa along with 16 other cities.
He said that Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is appointed to undertake the feasibility study across all 17 sites.
Rodrigues said that for Goa, the proposed four routes for the water metro project include Panaji-Divar-Old Goa, Panaji-Chorao Island, Vasco-Margao-Cortalim and Calangute-Baga-Candolim. “More routes would be added as and when required,” he said.
ACCORDING to the proposal, Goa plans a fleet of 20 electric boats with a capacity of 50-100 passengers per boat. All the boats will be of modern design with air-conditioned cabins, Wi-Fi and solar panels for auxiliary power. Perhaps, with the passage of time, some of these boats may be used for a Mumbai to Goa trip as well.