Panjim, Sept 4: A high level meeting was convened by the Department of Tourism and chaired by Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Goa comprising of Coastal taluka MLAs and Village Panchayat Sarpanchas who today unanimously resolved to complete all tourism related infrastructure development projects under Swadesh Darshan within a period of one year.

While the first phase  of the Coastal Circuit  Development Plan covering  beaches of North Goa will be completed within the next six months,  projects envisaged under the  second  phase of  the Coastal Circuit Development  covering  beaches in South Goa is proposed to be  completed within the next one year.

Site inspections for identification of areas for setting up of public conveniences namely toilets, changing rooms, locker facilities on the beach belts will begin from tomorrow and will be completed by September 15.

The Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar addressing the  high level meeting on Monday morning said, “ Goa Tourism  has received  Rs 200 crore (Rs 100 crore in the first phase and Rs 100 crore in the second  phase)  from the Central government under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for  setting up tourism  infrastructure  in the State. It is important that we utilize the money and complete the projects expeditiously so that this infrastructure development gives a big boost to tourism, in particular the beaches, and attracts tourists from all over the world.”

Mr. Ajgaonkar today  impressed on the  Village Panchayats  to  identify land,  furnish all  NOCs and also  obtain  required clearances  for initiating these projects  so as to avoid  hurdles causing any delay in the execution and completion of works.

Ajgaonkar requested the MD GTDC, Mr. Nikhil Desai to initiate the process for CRZ approvals immediately.

The Hon’ble Chairman  GTDC and MLA Curchorem, Mr. Nilesh Cabral  also addressed  the meeting  of  coastal taluka MLAs and  VP Sarpanchas and appealed to the  stakeholders to  extend  their full co-operation  with Goa Tourism  in augmenting tourism  infrastructure in  the coastal areas.

Earlier, Mr. Nikhil Desai, Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation made a detailed presentation of the circuit development plans phase I & II.  A time schedule was thereafter prepared for site inspections starting from tomorrow on the beach belt for identification of land and other issues to start the project development works.

Mr. Ajgaonkar today also impressed on the village panchayat representatives that Goa Tourism is working in the interest of boosting the profile of coastal areas cutting across all party lines.

Present at today’s meeting included, Minister for Panchayat, Mr. Mauvin Godinho, Minister  for Housing Mr. Jayesh Salgaonkar,  Leader of Opposition, Mr. Chandrakant Kavlekar,  Cortalim MLA Mrs. Alina  Saldanha,  Nuvem MLA Mr.  Wilfred D’Sa, St. Andre MLA Mr.  Francis Silveira, Mandrem MLA Mr. Dayanad Sopte along with their respective VP Sarpanchas and members. The Board of Directors of GTDC Dr. M. Modassir, Dr. Shrikant Ajgaonkar, and Mr. Jeet Arolkar were also present.  The Commissioner, CCP Mr. Dipak Desai also attended the meeting.

Coastal areas that will get a fillip under the coastal circuit development plan phase I include Morjim-Keri, Anjuna-Vagator, Sinquerim – Baga.

Coastal areas that  will get a fillip under the  coastal circuit development  plan phase II include  Miramar, Dona Paula, Baina, Colva,  Agonda, Palolem,Benaulim, Cavelossim, Mobor and many others.

Other components namely parking facilities,  CCTVs,   tourist  information centers, solar panels, solid waste management, signage,  seating arrangement at beaches,  mobile  toilet models, GS mapping, cycle tracks, gazebos, drinking water facilities, Wi Fi,  lighting,  rescue boats  and water scooters  will be taken up in the  development plans.

Panaji: September 6, 2017 … Directorate of Art and Culture has declared the result of State Level Dekhava Competition which was organised on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival with an objective to preserve and promote the age old tradition of presentation of scenes on historical and mythological stories.

This year overall 25 Ganesh Mandals from all over Goa had participated in the Dekhava competition. 1^st prize is of Rs. 25,000/- is won by Brameshwar Yuvak Sangh, Akhada, St. Estevam, 2^nd prize is of Rs. 20,000/- won by Kala Yuwak Sangh (Juvecha Raja), Juvem, St. Estev Marcel, 3^rd prize is of Rs. 15,000/- won by to Kshatriya Maratha Samaj, Rambhuvan Wada, Khumbarjua. The consolation prize winners of Rs. 7,000 are Kunkalikar Bal Kala Mandal, Hauso Wada, Madkai, Mahaganpati Sausthan, Ganesh Hill, Mahalwada, Madkai, Shantadurga Kala Krida Sangh, Dempo Odyseey, Non – Mon, Vasco, Yuva, Mala, Panaji and Shree Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Samittee, Tudav, Netravali, Sanguem etc.

Shri. Nagesh Sardessai, Shri. Hitesh Pankar and Shri. Vitesh Naik judged the Dekhava competition. The Winners of the Dekhava Competition will be awarded certificates and prizes at special function to be organized by Directorate of Art and Culture informed winners will be well in advance.

Panaji: Sept. 1, 2016 …. Maintaining that the State Government is committed to provide better health facilities to the people of Goa, the Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar said and added that an amount of Rs. 4500 crores will be spent to construct Superspeciality hospitals in the State. The Government, he said has already initiated efforts to ensure that the benefit of health care facilities are availed by rural populace on par with urban population.

The Chief Minister was speaking after launching the unique Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), a scheme to provide universal Health cover through Insurance for the entire resident population of Goa in the distinguished presence of Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza, MLA and Chairman EDC, Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health, Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Dr. Sanjiv  Dalvi, Director Health Services, Dr. Pradeep Naik, Dean GMC at function held at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panaji, today.

The Chief Minister said DDSSY would cover entire resident population of the State, residing Goa for five years and more. He said benefits under this Scheme are provided on a cashless basis to the beneficiaries upto the limit of their annual coverage i.e. cover upto Rs. 2.5 lakhs per annum for a family of three or less members. Cover upto Rs. 4 lakhs for a family of four and more members. The Insurance benefits can be availed individually or collectively by members of the family besides these, facilities will be available at the doorsteps in rural areas with the nearest private hospital and people may not travel long distances. The Specialized services not available in Government hospital can be availed from private hospital wherever available in Goa or outside the State, he added.

The Chief Minister who presented consent letters to 19 private hospitals empanelled under scheme on the occasion for the welfare of the people of the State and said that this was the endeavour of Government and the launching of DDSSY is decisive step in this direction. Government, he said is spending 100 crores in health sector for providing health infrastructure so that the benefit are derived by the people of Goa. Efforts, he said will be made to see that Goa emerges as a medical hub in the Country.

Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza in his address said DDSSY was launched on Goa Statehood Day  May 31, 2016  and the benefits of the scheme will be made available to the population of Goa from the September 1, 2016. He said if there are discrepancies in scheme will be modified to make it effectively operative.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the notion of the people is that the private hospitals are providing better treatment facilities as against the Government run hospitals. In this context he said this scheme will give scope for competition as the DDSSY scheme has been made operational by empanelling 19 private hospitals in the State.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the Government has deposited an amount of 14 crores with the Insurance Company for the implementation of the scheme.

Earlier Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health welcomed. Dr. Vandana Dhume compere the function.