Goa: Protesters seek Rohan Khaunte’s resignation over jetty policy
Times of India | 10 hours ago | 15-10-2022 | 09:22 am
Times of India
10 hours ago | 15-10-2022 | 09:22 am
PANAJI: Voluntary organisations, Congress and Revolutionary Goans, on Friday, protested outside Paryatan Bhavan at Panaji to oppose the proposed jetty policy. The protesters sought tourism minister Rohan Khaunte’s resignation for attempting to introduce the policy, which they said lacked clarity. The proposed jetty policy was thrown open for public suggestions and objections last month, and since then the tourism department has twice extended the last date to receive objections. While the policy has been in the making for several years, the draft was readied only recently, with the tourism minister being very clear that he wants a system in place to operate jetties under the domain of the tourism department. “The proposed jetty policy is not backed by a scientific study. It is vague and lacks clarity,” said environmet activist Abhijit Prabhudesai. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, who also joined the protest, said the proposed draft policy will be “disastrous for Goa’s ecology,” and that it should not be allowed in its present form. “We will oppose the policy which has been prepared without taking people into confidence. The tourism department is not equipped to draft such policies,” he said. RG chief Manoj Parab said that people should oppose the policy. “I appeal to all to reject the policy, protest in your village, and do not allow the policy to be approved,” Parab said.
