Goemkarponn desk
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo today has alleged that some restaurant owners in his constituency are threatened to pay protection money by two miscreants.
“Renowned restaurants in Calangute have threatened to give protection money to 2 people who are not from the Calangute constituency. Extortion at this level never happened during my tenure as the MLA,” said Lobo.
He further said that he will write to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and DGP regarding the same.
“Goa is dependent on tourism and you can’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg. We need to protect our tourism business,” he added
Lobo also said that he has started his own investigation, there are these two people who are roaming around and asking for protection money from businesses and that he will file a written complaint.
Lobo also said that amplified music should be stopped after 10 pm as per the direction of the High Court.
“These illegal activities have to stop. All the dance bars should be immediately stopped. The panchayat has given them a licence only for restaurants but they have misused the licence,” Lobo said.
Lobo speaking further said that religious places temples, churches, chapels and mosques carrying out religious activities every day need to be protected from commercial development.
“A 40-meter buffer zone from the wall has to be maintained so that the religious activities are not disturbed,” he added.
Lobo also said that he will write to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane not to allow any commercial activities around religious places.
“Will also raise the issue in the forthcoming budget session of Goa assembly to bring up an amendment in TCP Act to maintain the sanctity of religious places ,” he added.