Goa’s heli-tourism story appears to have hit a spell of turbulence even before the innovative aerial-tourism even got underway.
Both the Congress and the BJP leadership, as well as religious leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Goa, have opposed the tourism-by-helicopters project, which is being anchored by Pawan Hans, a Central Government-run helicopter service company and Goa Tourism authority.
According to Congress spokesperson Agnelo Fernandes, the party will oppose the project because it would shatter the sanctity of the eco-sensitive Aguada plateau, which overlooks the stunning coastal vista of the Sinquerim beach and the Arabian sea beyond it.
“If need be, we will physically oppose this heli-tourism project or we will go to court against it. The heli-tourism service does not even have a licence from the local panchayat body. But our biggest reason for opposing it is the eco-sensitive area it is located in,” Fernandes said.
Heli-tourism has been one of the showcase initiatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition Government in Goa, which is keen on expanding the State’s bouquet of tourism offerings, from beach and night-life oriented experiences, to the more than four million tourists who visit the State every year.
According to State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, chopper-tourism is a great way of attracting high spending tourists to the state. “We are keen on promoting Goa as a destination for high-spending tourists. Such helicopter rides are a great way of targeting that group of tourists,” Parulekar told The Pioneer.
After obtaining necessary clearances from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Pawan Hans even conducted trial runs last week, in anticipation of the inauguration of the heli-tourism service on Sunday. But the launch was postponed, after crowds led by Fernandes and local BJP MlA Michael lobo reached the helipad at Aguada plateau, to protest.
The tourism department has however maintained that the launched was delayed, because of the sudden unavailability of Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Sunday.
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation however maintains, that the heli-tourism project is very much on, despite the opposition to it, and that the launch is scheduled later this week “come what may”.
“Helicopter joy rides will begin this week come what may and the government will take head on any opposition that comes its way against it. Work of developing the existing helipad at Aguada where the helicopter joy rides will take off is nearing completion and full- fledged commercial flights will begin thereafter,” said the statement issued by GTDC, a Government-run corporation.
“The GTDC and Pawan Hans today maintained its stand as issued last week that helicopter joy rides do not cause noise pollution, nor does it affect the eco sensitive areas of Aguada,” the statement also said.