Police need to cooperate to boost tourism: Minister

Panaji, Aug 26: The image of tourism in Goa got a severe beating with the police mishandling the rape and murder case of the British teenager Scarlette Keeling, Tourism Minister Francisco Xavier Pascheco (Mickey) told the State Legislative Assembly tonight.

Replying to a debate on budget demand of tourism department in the House, Mr Pascheco sought cooperation of the police with the tourism department to improve the situation by regaining confidence of tourists, both domestic and foreign.

He also referred to the problems posed by the Lamanis (lanbada tribals) causing nuisance in the coastal belt and thus affecting the tourists. This need to be handled effectively by the tourist police in collaboration with the tourism officials, he said.

The authorities, he said, were trying to develop infrastructure of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation in a big way through public- privatge partnership model to generate more revenue.

The government had finalised the beach shacks policy which had been sent for Cabinet approval. It would be ready by September this year, he added.

Labour Minister Joaquim Alemao told the House that the government was contemplating to raise the minimum wage to Rs 150 from the existing Rs 103 per day fixed in March 2002.

The government was also finalising medical scheme to benefit the BPL labourers by providing a medical allowance worth Rs 30,000 each, he told the House while replying to a debate on budget demand on his Ministry.

UNI