Latest news with #MichaelLobo
India Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why Goa homestays for tourists are in minister's line of fire
Unregistered homestays have become the latest flashpoint in Goa's tourism debate. At the heart of the issue lies residential apartments that were purchased during the Covid pandemic by people from Delhi and other parts of the country, and are now being rented out to tourists in violation of state Minister Rohan Khaunte, speaking in the Goa Legislative Assembly on July 29, said such properties were never meant to operate as commercial holiday turning them into unregistered homestays, he warned, owners are "misusing and renting" residential spaces to visitors, undermining the formal hospitality sector and creating social tensions within local ILLEGAL GOA HOMESTAY ISSUE WAS RAISED? The matter came up during Zero Hour when BJP legislator and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo flagged what he described as a growing menace of illegal pointed out that many apartments, initially purchased as "second homes" within gated complexes, have since been converted into holiday rentals through online units, he alleged, often attract "unruly" tourists whose behaviour causes constant inconvenience to permanent argued that the unchecked rise of such rentals is disturbing the delicate social balance in Goa's neighbourhoods."There is a growing concern among Goans regarding illegal homestays in buildings and unregistered homes and estates. This unregulated activity is causing anxiety among the residents and raising concerns of safety, security and infrastructure strain. In buildings, if there are 50 flats, ten are given on rent for short-term holidays. No one keeps a track of who moves in and out. They drink in the common spaces [of the building complex]play loud music," Lobo said, according to a report by The Indian Express."I urge the government to take decisive action to crackdown against unauthorised homestays and ensure strict enforcement of registration norms and protect the interests of residents," he MINISTER 'S RESPONSE TO THE CRISISIn his reply, Tourism Minister Khaunte defended the government's monitoring mechanism, insisting that only verified and registered establishments are officially recognised on Online Travel Aggregator (OTA) urged locals to assist the government in identifying violators. "The department is taking steps to ensure compliance. We urge citizens to report unregistered or illegal stays so action can be taken," he told Herald further stressed that the state maintains constant oversight over listings on OTAs. "Regular watch is kept on accommodations listed on OTAs."They are actively monitored. The government has ensured all inventory of hotel rooms, guesthouses and other stays linked with OTA platforms are registered with the tourism department," he said, according to debate comes against the backdrop of the Goa government's regulatory framework for December 2023, the state notified its Homestay and Bed and Breakfast Policy, and set service benchmarks, mandated registration, and sought to streamline the mushrooming of small-scale tourist accommodations across the state.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Visa-on-arrival is must to revive tourism: MLAs
How to legally switch from a visit visa to a work visa in the UAE in 2025/ Image: File Porvorim: The House witnessed heated discussions on tourism demands as MLAs urged govt to implement long-pending reforms, with the visa-on-arrival facility emerging as the primary demand for attracting high-spending international tourists. MLAs questioned the absence of visa-on-arrival services at both Dabolim and Mopa airports, despite assurances given before the latter became operational. 'European tourists particularly, should get this facility as it will attract high-spending tourists,' said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa also made a strong pitch for the facility. 'Both the engines are yours. Tell Centre of the need for the visa-on-arrival facility to promote tourism,' he said. Lobo criticised the non-implementation of the tourism master plan, which he said consumed Rs 5 crore and three years of preparation before its completion in 2016. He also said that removing illegal touts, guides, and other unlawful activities from beaches was essential for attracting quality tourists. Poriem MLA Deviya Rane advocated for declaring the Ghodemoddni festival of Sattari as a state festival, as well as for promoting wellness and medical tourism. She stressed the necessity of direct international flights from Goa to elevate beach, medical, and spiritual tourism 'to the next level.'
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Coastal tourism crisis deepens over Baga sewage plant delays: Lobo
Calangute: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the coastal tourism belt is headed for a serious crisis in sewage disposal in the absence of sewage treatment plants (STPs). 'There are so many new resorts, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and buildings coming up. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Where will the sewage be disposed of? In Calangute, completion of the STP at Baga is the need of the hour. We need a good STP. Otherwise, people will keep on dumping in hills and fields,' Lobo told the media at Baga. He said he spoke to the chief minister about setting up a monitoring committee to oversee Baga STP's completion. 'The Calangute sewerage system has five phases, of which one has started. A lot of work is left. The sewerage corporation has not started giving connections, and the corporation should complete the work,' he said. The Calangute sewerage system, built through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funding, has been delayed for more than a decade. 'We call Goa a tourism hub. When so many permissions are given for resorts and hotels, then STP is a must. Sewage tankers line up to empty sewage in Panaji, which only accepts 30 a day,' he said. Lobo said that depending solely on soak pits or dumping into nullahs is a wrong approach as it contaminates the groundwater. 'Water level in Goa is always up because of heavy rain. During high tide in coastal areas, the water table rises, and sewage does not drain,' he said.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Not sand dune area': Coastal body rejects Anjuna locals' plaint citing 2011 plan
Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) discharged the complaint filed by the Anjuna-Caisua Biodiversity Committee and the villagers against a CRZ violation. The authority noted that there is no sand dune ecosystem in the area, and it is not one of the notified turtle nesting sites. The construction was found to be on a property owned by Michael Lobo, who informed the GCZMA that an illegal construction was removed and the debris cleared. Lobo stated to the GCZMA that he purchased the property from one Britto and that the illegal structures were erected by land grabber Mohammed Hassan Shaikh. The villagers complained in Oct 2024 about the destruction of sand dunes, mangroves, and marine life at Vagator beach, purportedly for water sports activities. The GCZMA carried out an inspection of the site, which showed that beach vegetation was removed. Two temporary sheds and 14 water sports vessels were found parked in the area. The GCZMA began proceedings in the matter. The authority noted that Lobo's name was reflected in the property title and also received a representation on March 7 from Lobo stating that the site in question was cleared and the debris and structure were dismantled and removed. 'In view of the compliance representation, a site inspection/verification was carried out by officials of the GCZMA on March 13,' the GCZMA said. 'The site inspection/verification report clearly indicated that the structures mentioned in the show-cause notice were removed and debris was also cleared from the property bearing Survey No. 354/1, village Anjuna, Vagator.' Complainant Desmond Alvares filed formal objections stating that there was flattening of sand dunes, destruction of vegetation, and alleging that the property is conducive to turtle nesting. Lobo filed his response stating that the site in question is not classified as sand dunes as per the notified Coastal Zone Management Plan 2011 and denied any illegal flattening of sand dunes. 'The authority noted that in the inspection carried out by the officials of the GCZMA, there were no other observations noted on illegal cutting of sand dunes and vegetation. As far as the question of turtle nesting is concerned, the said site/property is along Anjuna/Vagator beach, which is admittedly not a turtle nesting beach/site,' the GCZMA noted. It said, 'As per CRZ Notification 2011, only Mandrem, Morjim, Galgibaga, and Agonda are designated turtle nesting beaches/sites. The authority observed that there is no credible evidence on record to show that the site in question is a sand dune area.'
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC seeks reply in plea challenging Act on shacks
Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa sought a response from state and central authorities, as well as the Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, in a public interest petition challenging the validity of the Goa Erection of Shacks on Public Beaches (Regulation and Control) Act 2024. Petitioners Desmond Alvares and other environmental activists alleged that the Act is unconstitutional and ultra vires. They submitted that the Act, under the guise of regulating temporary shacks, permits the construction of permanent or semi-permanent structures on beaches, including ecologically sensitive areas such as sand dunes, which are classified as CRZ-1 (A) areas. The Act undermines coastal protection and public safety and lacks provisions for ensuring the structural stability and safety of constructions as it dispenses with critical requirements like structural stability certificates, local calculations and architect conformity letters, the petitioners submitted to the court. They added that the Act allows structures up to nine metres in height (G+2) without adequate safeguards, circumventing existing building regulations and the National Building Code. It also enables the construction of permanent structures under the guise of temporary ones, as evidenced by the use of steel structures with concrete foundations and lacks provisions for completion or occupancy certificates, which are essential to ensure that structures are safe for occupation, they further submitted. The division bench of the high court, comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta, directed the petition to be listed on Aug 4.
