Tourism at the cost of violating Fundamental Rights of Citizens -Open Letter to CM

OPEN LETTER

Date; 5^th October, 2014

To:

Mr. Manohar Parrikar,

Chief Minister,

Government of Goa.

Sub: Tourism at the cost of violating Fundamental Rights of Citizens

Dear Mr. Parrikar,

The harrowing experience of getting stuck in traffic jams on NH 17 and NH 4A this weekend has finally compelled me to lodge this protest against the nuisance and disruption of day-to-day living of the ordinary Goan, due to the indiscriminate and immodest promotion of tourism in the State of Goa. This weekend’s chaos is definitely not a one off phenomena but is increasingly becoming a regular feature almost every weekend and festive season when we Goans are literally made prisoners in our own land by the care less attitude for the Fundamental Rights of citizens by the Government of Goa and the Tourism Industry.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we Goans have not surrendered our Fundamental Right to Life to the Department for Tourism and the Tourism Industry. The beaches have almost been rendered inaccessible to us locals. Visiting a beach is almost becoming a luxury for Goan families these days due to the boisterous crowds, obstruction on the beaches from increasing tourism activities and parking woes, exorbitant rates for services, extortion and thefts.

We Goans also have a right to celebrate our festivals, visit our friends and indulge in some entertainment on weekends and holidays and cannot be forced into a sort of self-imposed house arrest as movement on roads becomes almost impossible due to the invasion of Goa by hordes of boisterous tourists and aggressive taxi operators. Revenue to the State and Livelihood of some Locals cannot become the justification to deprive us the larger Goan society of our Fundamental Rights and subject  us to nuisance of loud music and fireworks till the early hours of morning, fleecing and rash driving by taxi and rickshaw operators, drunken driving and traffic jams on roads every few metres.

I refuse to be reduced to a tourist in my own home State of Goa. I hope the slogan ‘Athiti Devo Bhavo’ is not interpreted by your Government as meaning ‘the Hosts have to tolerate any degree of nuisance and inconvenience for the sake of Guests.’

I would appeal to you to take serious steps to curb such nuisance and inconvenience meted out to us local citizens due to this wild promotion of tourism by the Government of Goa. This protest should not be construed as an opposition to Tourism but the criminal negligence of the Government of Goa in respecting the State’s Carrying Capacity for such activity and without compromising the Fundamental Right to Life of Local Citizens. I would be happy to further elaborate on any facts if you may require.

I trust that your much acclaimed Superman Governance which is claimed to have solutions to any problem under the sky will assure that our citizen rights are safeguarded in the race and greed for profits from tourism.

 

 Yours Sincerely,

Soter D’Souza

Mobile 9890056616