Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Department of Tourism has replied to the Captain of Ports on the Draft Jetty Policy, saying the Policy to regulate the operations and upgrade the Jetties being used for tourism businesses only, thereby regulating the operations of cruise vessels used for tourism purposes at such Jetties.
The Policy is currently applicable for regulating the tourism activities only at the five existing Government Jetties used for tourism purposes viz., Santa Monica Jetty at Panaji, Captain of Ports Jetty at Panaji, Britona Jetty, Betim Jetty and Old Goa Jetty. And this shall not be applicable to any other Jetties that are not for tourism purposes.
The Policy mandates the creation of basic and necessary infrastructure such as toilets, waiting areas, and facilities for tourism-related activities with defined points of boarding and deboarding, frisking, national security, accidents, garbage management etc., for a seamless experience for the tourists, it said.
DOT says the Policy standardizes the minimum tourist infrastructure facilities required across the five Jetties catering to tourists, for their safety and a better experience.
The Policy does not extend to vessels catering for casinos, barges, coal handling vessels etc. The Policy also stresses safety and surveillance to ensure minimum basic standard services. The Policy is an attempt to ensure fair competition among players, transparency in ticket pricing and adherence to taxation by all operators at all the Jetties and implementation of a single window system for all Jetty users. The Policy recommends streamlining the evening boat cruises and other theme tours to ensure good quality at a reasonable price to create a good experience for the tourists.
COP, being one of the members of the Jetty Management Committee, has been a party in all the meetings of the JMC in the past, including the discussions related to the introduction and drafting of this Policy. Upon consultation with COP, the Policy included the roles and responsibilities of COP that do not infringe on the statutory powers and administrative requirements of the CoP vide the Indian Ports Act and the Inland Vessels Act and rules.
Clause 6 – Roles and Responsibility of COP, 5.4.1 – Statutory charges to COP, and 5.4.2 Mooring License Fee of the said Draft Jetty Policy clearly mentions that COP will remain the statutory authority for all vessels, including the power of imposing fines, prescribing safety standards, awarding Mooring license and collection of the license fee accordingly. Moreover, all required approvals for the development of a new Jetty shall still be required to be taken from COP and other applicable development authorities.
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