Team Goemkarponn
CALANGUTE: Local MLA Michael Lobo met with stakeholders to assess the watersports activities following the Calangute tourist boat accident. He instructed the relevant department to establish dos and don’ts for both customers and operators.
While the police were instructed to keep an eye on the watersports operations, the tourism department was also instructed to suspend any operator’s license for breaking established norms and regulations, such as overloading. Additionally, instructions for putting up boards with the charges for watersports services and the restrictions to be obeyed were provided.
Lobo accompanied Captain of Ports, Tourism Department officials, and police inspectors Paresh Naik and Jatin Potdar to the beach.
“Stakeholders should abide by all laws and regulations, and safety procedures should be in place. An incident like this shouldn’t occur. Tourism is the state’s lifeblood. To guarantee a seamless and incident-free tourism season, the relevant department should meet with the stakeholders before the season begins. Children’s participation in water sports must also be restricted by age, he stated.
Additionally, the MLA instructed the police officers to detain and punish anyone found working on the beach without identification, including shack and watersports employees. He urged the interested parties to avoid touts.
He asked the watersports operators to conduct their operations so as not to damage the state’s reputation. “Give customers the life-saving jackets they need,” he stated. In order to prevent illegalities, he also instructed the police to perform surprise checks. On Thursday, however, Calangute Beach was restricted to all water sports.
