Saturday, June 19, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa tourism industry protests new cess; Govt promises review

Posted: 19 Jun 2010 01:01 AM PDT

The Goa Government has assured to review the latest cess imposed on hospitality industry, the lifeline of the state's economy, following protest from the tourism industry players. "The Government will re-examine the issues raised by the tourism industry. We will do whatever possible to attract more tourists," Chief Minister Digamber Kamat said, reacting to tourism industry's demand of revision of 5 per cent cess levied on room rents and Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on food and breweries in the state. Mr. Kamat was addressing a function organised by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), the apex trade body of the tourism sector, on Friday.

TTAG was unhappy with the government's decision to impose a fresh cess at a time when international tourist inflow had slipped by 20 per cent post-Mumbai terror attacks. The Chief Minister promised his government will take all necessary steps required for further growth of the foreign exchange earning industry. "The Government gives top priority to tourism. It's for us to see that tourists are cared for." Mr. Kamat said schemes like beach safety management, implemented through private participation, have been taken up to allay safety fears of the guests visiting the state.

Downplaying the bad publicity earned by Goa in recent past, he said any tourism destination with international repute gets both good and bad publicity. "The number of deaths due to drowning has drastically reduced after beach management scheme became a reality. This had sent a good signal to tourist that government of Goa cares for their safety," Mr. Kamat said.

Tourism industry brings sometimes good things and sometimes bad things. But you will find that tourism industry has dealt with such impact effectively, the CM stated. "But, it's for all of us to work together and see how we can get maximum good things and reduce bad things. This could be attained by working hand in hand with tourism industry," he added.

Courtesy: hindu

Man held with 3.8kg of gold at Goa airport

Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:09 PM PDT

Customs officials on Friday nabbed a passenger trying to smuggle in a gold chain worth Rs 51 lakh.

Finding his movement suspicious, a team led by superintendent G D Lotlikar intercepted Sayeed Muhammed of Bhatkal, Karnataka, who had arrived from Dubai via Doha on a Qatar Airlines flight.

He had declared goods worth Rs 5,000. An X-ray of his bag didn't reveal anything incriminating. Noticing that he was walking awkwardly, officials frisked him and found a white gold chain weighing 3.8kg worth about Rs 50.94 lakh wrapped in paper in an artificial knee cover.

Muhammed told interrogators he had undertaken the job for monetary benefits promised to him by a person in Dubai. He was sent to seven days custody.

Courteay:TOI

Judge recuses himself from Pacheco’s bail plea in Goa

Posted: 18 Jun 2010 09:33 AM PDT

Former Goa minister Mickky Pacheco’s bail plea in the case relating to his 28-year-old alleged lover’s death, could not be heard on Friday as a Bombay High Court judge recused himself from the hearing.

In his bail application before the Panaji bench of the high court, the former tourism minister says that it is a “witch hunt” against him because of his “frank and forthright” comments on scams in departments directly governed by the chief minister and the home minister.

Pacheco, who is ‘on the run’ along with his key aide Lyndon Monteiro, has said that he would be subjected to “third degree” treatment if he was arrested by the police.

“The petitioner is known as frank and forthright politician and has commented on many occasions on his cabinet colleague, including the honourable home minister… The petitioner openly spoke about the excise scam and the drug racket in Goa. The honourable chief minister is also holding the portfolio of excise,” Pacheco said in his bail application.

The lucrative excise department portfolio, in which a multi-crore Rupee scam was exposed recently by Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar is held by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

Home Minister Ravi Naik has been accused by the opposition of sheltering key accused in the high profile police-politician-drug mafia nexus being probed by the police.

Pacheco said that the accusations against him were political in nature and were meant to hammer him into submission.

“The accusations made by the press are false and politically motivated in order to see that the petitioner’s political career is terminated or weakened to a large extent so that he becomes meek and obliging and does not cause any threat to the present political balance in Goa, directly or indirectly,” Pacheco said in his application, which is likely to be heard now by the chief justice of the Bombay High court in the next few days.

Pacheco, who has been charged with extortion, bigamy and assault in the past, has also asked for a judicial enquiry into his alleged love Nadia Torrado’s death as well as into the excise scam and drug racket “in which cases the kin and kith of political bigwigs in the government are involved”.

Torrado died May 30, fifteen days after she consumed rat poison. Both Pacheco and his aide Monteiro as well as members of Nadia’s family are in the ambit of suspicion, police say.

Courtesy:TOI
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