GFP takes up state issues at NDA meet

Panaji: The Goa Forward Party (GFP), at the NDA meeting held in Delhi yesterday, raised the concern of the state's tourism industry arising from a ban on loud music at night and a SC order on liquor shops. "The imposition on ban on music after 10 PM has been affecting the state's prospects to be developed as a wedding destination," GFP leader and state minister Vijai Sardesai told PTI today.

"Goa is an important tourist and wedding destination where such kind of ban affects the trade," he said. He said the issue was raised during the meeting of NDA constituents which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. The GFP, after the recent state Assembly elections, entered into an alliance BJP and is a partner in the Manohar Parrikar led state government. Sardesai said currently the state allows exemption from the ban on loud music for 15 days in a year, but it is not enough.

"The relaxation is given during festivals like Easter, Christmas and New Year. But these 15 days are not enough to salvage the wedding and tourism industry from the affects of the ban," he said. The Town and Country Planning Minister demanded that the relaxation be extended to six months in a year to save the tourism industry that provides employment opportunities and generates revenue for the state. He said the Centre should allow the state to enact a legislation in this regard.

The GFP also sought the Centre's intervention to save thousands of liquor outlets along the national and state highways which have been closed following a Supreme Court order. Sardesai also expressed apprehension over the Centre's decision to nationalise inland waterways in the coastal state. He said the issue was raised in the meeting and later a memorandum was handed over to Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari listing their reservations over the issue. Sardesai had earlier also raised objection to the nationalisation of rivers claiming that the rights of fishermen would be curbed.