Under pressure of local Church, BJP Govt suspends Aguada copter rides

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 03 February 2016 22:25 IST

Bowing before the pressure of the Church as well as the local Panchayat, the Bharatiya Janata Party government today indefinitely suspended the operation of helicopter joy rides from Aguada plateau at Sinquerim.

A decision in this regard was taken by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today evening at a meeting held in Panaji, along with tourism minister and Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.

Earlier in the morning, former Congress MLA Agnel Fernandes, along with the Sarpanch and the panch members, had protested at the Aguada helipad and the police had ‘evacuated’ them from the site belonging to the tourism department.

In spite of opposition, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation had gone ahead with the joy rides since yesterday.

This had irked the opponents, who moved into several actions while MLA Lobo rushed to the CM.

“Since the local Church is also opposing the helicopter joy rides stating Aguada is a heritage site, the CM decided to put on hold the decision to use the Sinquerim helipad”, Parulekar told goanews.com.

Fr Rodany Rebello, the local parish priest of Candolim, had also addressed a press conference in the Congress House, stating that he has enlightened the parishioners about the ill effects of the helicopter joy rides during the religious services.

CM Parsekar has thus decided to talk to all the locals opposing the use of helipad, only after which the government would decide whether to start the service.

Since this is an election year and politicians have sprung up from all the sides to oppose the joy rides, it is crystal clear that the BJP government would not dare to start it till the Assembly election is held.

“We were getting good response since it is a central place in the tourism belt of Bardez”, said Parulekar.

He also informed that Pawan Hans, the central government agency running such services elsewhere in the country, had decided to press into service total four helicopters after judging the increasing response since yesterday.

“While 25 tourists had enjoyed the ride yesterday, almost 100 tourists had lined up today”, said Parulekar.

Meanwhile, Parsekar has assured them to identify some private land in the northern costal belt, including in his Mandrem constituency like Harmal, to shift the helicopter service there. 


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Minister dont bost tourism vith other activities maintain whats getting lost and the environment, goa is known by its greenery and beaches

- lester, goa | 06 th February 2016 08:19

 

the communal church opposes all works they are running parralel government in Go.a . Are this padres who will decide governance in Goa the place can conduct marriages of ex cong mla being a heritage site but tourism is prohibited .is this govt succumbing to dadagiri of church .the velim attack case in which policemen were beated black and blue by padris is taken back ..reason padris cant be tried in indian court as they are gods .is the law of land not applicable to padris .are we living in portuguese rule or under indian constitution . and were all secular people hiding . communal church opposed konkan railway project any projects which integrates with india they will oppose they opposition is selective and communal but no catholic raises voice against them because they are all holy cow .is nt .

- yuvraj gawas , ponda | 04 th February 2016 22:10

 

Now the vidhan sabha of Goa should have a representative from church, mosque, gurudwara, aguiari, etc. This is secularism of new India swearing by secularism taken to rediculous length.

- Madhav Bastodker, Ponda | 04 th February 2016 07:09

 

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