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Goa Beaches
One person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred around 1.30 pm, they said. "A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized," a senior police official said. Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets, he said. The passengers included children as young as six year old and women, he said. Spokesman of Drishti Marine, a government-appointed lifesaving agency, said the boat capsized around 60 metres away from the coastline, resulting in all the passengers falling off into the sea water. A family comprising 13 members from Khed in Maharashtra were among the passengers on board, he said. On seeing the boat getting capsized, a personnel of Drishti Marine rushed to aid and called for backup, he said. "In all, 18 on-duty lifesavers rushed to the ai
The Colva beach in South Goa is set to undergo comprehensive infrastructure development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0, a state minister has said. The project aims to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the local environment and supporting the livelihoods of local residents, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Friday. The minister along with local MLA Venzy Viegas, Margao legislator Digamber Kamat and other stakeholders inspected the Colva beach on Friday. Talking to reporters later, Khaunte said the first phase of the project is set to commence after January 5, next year. It will focus on resolving the critical infrastructure issues while ensuring minimal disruption to the daily operations of local vendors and businesses, he said. "This initiative is part of a larger commitment of the Goa government to promote sustainable tourism and enhance the state's cultural and natural attractions. World-class amenities will be provided under the project, while als
The Goa legislative assembly has passed a bill proposing amendments to its ground water regulation law, providing for imposing a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh on those indulging in illegal construction of wells and transportation of ground water. The Goa Ground Water Regulation (Amendment) Bill was passed on Wednesday evening. State Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar moved the amendments to the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act, 2002. However, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Goa Forward party MLA Vijai Sardesai opposed the move. The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill mentions that the present quantum of fine as provided in the Act are not effective to deter the activities of illegal sinking/construction of wells and illegal transportation of ground water. "There is an urgent need to protect groundwater aquifers from pollution and/or contamination. Therefore, the Bill seeks to amend clause (B) of section 17 of the Act
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said they have initiated the process of installation of beach shacks in the state and started giving provisional No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for it to the shack owners. The tourist season has already started in Goa and there has been a delay in putting up shacks after the state environment department delayed in ascertaining the carrying capacity of beaches (for shacks), Khaunte told PTI. The environment department has recommended that 364 shacks can be erected on various stretches of beaches in the coastal state, he said. We have already initiated the process of erecting beach shacks. The department is giving provisional NOCs to the shack owners, Khaunte said. The tourism department earlier set November 17 as the deadline for paying shack licence fees. But there was a request from shack owners to extend the deadline. The department has extended the deadline to accept the payments till November 25, the minister said. It is import
The onset of monsoon in Goa has prompted authorities to close the beaches for any kind of activities, but tourists still flock to the seafronts, though in lesser numbers. Beach shacks were dismantled in the last week of May, while water sports activities were also closed by the State Tourism Department. Tourists, however, have continued visiting the beaches, though in a lesser number. Hardly 20 per cent of tourists arrive here during the monsoon. There is no activity happening here. Warnings are also issued against swimming in the sea due to high waves, said Abdul Shaikh, a tourist taxi operator from Colva Beach in South Goa. He said that the tourist season has almost closed down with no business for taxi operators. At Colva Beach, tourists were seen enjoying the rain on Wednesday, while the private lifeguard agency engaged by the state government deployed its manpower to the fullest to ensure that there were no untoward incidents. Kanwaljeet Singh from Ambala in Haryana who is i
Goa will create 12 co-working spaces called 'Sea Hubs' alongside the beaches to provide a conducive work environment to professionals and also offer them an opportunity to rejuvenate amidst the natural beauty of the coastal landscape, state minister Rohan Khaunte has said. The aim is to provide a healthy work-life balance through this facility and other innovative concepts, the information and technology minister said at the ongoing StartUp20 Engagement Group meeting in Goa on Saturday. The state government also plans a complete operationalisation of the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster at Tuem (in North Goa) and attract investments, he said. To promote a healthy work-life balance, we are introducing Sea Hubs co-working spaces located at 12 scenic beach locations. These hubs will not only provide a conducive work environment, but also offer the opportunity to rejuvenate amidst the natural beauty of our coastal landscape, Khaunte said, addressing a gathering in the presence of Union
Aurus, an Artificial Intelligence-based self-driving robot, and AI-based monitoring system Triton are being used to augment life-saving capabilities on Goa's beaches, a state-appointed lifeguard services agency has said. The incorporation of AI-based support follows an increase in beach-related incidents due the rising number of domestic and foreign tourists on Goa's coastline, said a spokesperson from Drishti Marine. There have been more than 1,000 rescue incidents in the past two years along the coastal belt which required assistance from the agency's life savers, he said. "Aurus is a self-driving robot" developed to assist lifesavers by patrolling extensive non-swim zones and alerting tourists during high tide. The new addition will help in increased surveillance and crowd management at the beaches, he said. Besides, the Triton system's primary focus is to provide a completely AI-based monitoring of non-swim zones, thereby alerting tourists of the danger and notifying the neares