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Privacy
Policy for LiveIndia.Com
Golden
Triangle - with Taj Mahal - India's top tourist Destinations and
more....
from daijiworld's special
correspondent
Panaji, Jan 16: Goa is getting
expensive for the leisure seekers every year.Excessive taxation, triggered
by VAT, has forced Goa's hotel industry to hike tarriffs by 25 per cent
in the past couple of years making the coastal state an expensive destination
, feel tourism experts.
"While Goa has witnessed
growth in tourism, concerns are raised on pricings as it is competing with
southeast Asian countries, which are much cheaper holiday zones," travel
and tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Ralf D'Souza said.Hospitality
industry players feel that Value Added Tax (VAT) regime in Goa has overburdened
the industry, which is forced to pass on the extra liability to clients.
"Three years back, VAT was implemented in Goa. Earlier the industry was
governed by sales tax, which was 5.5 per cent. But VAT scaled the tax to
12.5 per cent," D'Souza said."20 per cent VAT was imposed on liquor furtherhiking
the prices," he said.He observed that luxury tax too witnessed a jump from
5.75 to 8.75 per cent."There was total 17 per cent hike in taxes. Hoteliers
added seven to eight per cent of their own jacking prices by 25 per cent,"
he said.
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Save Goa cries greet
Rane
MARGAO, JAN 13 — Loud cries
of “Scrap Regional Plan” and “save Goa” “stop mining at Canacona” resounded
at the inaugural ceremony of the 12th Goa Yuva Festival at BPS Club grounds
here on Saturday, literally taking Chief Minister off guard, with an embarassed
Pratapsing Rane re-assuring to review the Plan - a promise which had hardly
any takers.Both the Chief Minister and Power Minister, Digambar Kamat —
seated on the dias — turned pale figures amidst the huge gathering of 3000-odd
young Goans, who armed with the traditional ‘dol’ and banners asked politicians
to protect Goa and threatened to come on the streets if the Plan was not
scrapped forthwith.What literally forced Rane to comment on the controversial
Plan at the festival inaugural ceremony was the presence of a few placards
prominently displayed in the audience. “I have seen and read the message.
I will take that into consideration. The plan needs to be discussed. |
The TCP portfolio has now come
to me after Monserrate’s resignation. But, it’s not my landed property
to scrap it immediately. The experts will inquire into it”, Rane said,
adding “lakhs of rupees were spent on the Plan, adding the audit will raise
objections”.Sensing the crowd were demanding a categorical assurance, Rane
said “in a democracy, one has to listen to the people. People are free
to raise objections, but they need to be discussed before taking any decision.
What people want will be met, but after following a procedure””, but avoided
making any categorical assurance.Later, President of the festival, Adv
Amey Prabhudessai sent across a stern warning that the youth will not tolerate
any attempt to sell their motherland and Goan identity.
No organised criminal
gangs in Goa, says DIG
Panaji, Jan 16 The deputy
inspector-general of police, Mr Ujjwal Mishra today said that there could
be some criminal gangs operating from outside Goa but there are no organised
gangs in Goa. Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, the DIG said, “These gangsters
come, stay temporarily, commit crimes and then go back to their native
places.” The “real” and well-organised gangs come from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and other areas, he disclosed.
He informed that “white-collar
crimes” are being replaced by “blue-collar crimes’’. Cheating has become
better form of making fast bucks. Banks offer huge loans and people with
criminal mind do not bother to pay the banks back. There are big complicated
loan frauds. So the police find it very difficult to apprehend the accused
and bring him to justice, the DIG said Mr Mishra stated that earlier criminals
used to resort to ‘physical’ methods like robbery, snatching of goods,
kidnapping. However, now the time has changed. Giving an example of rise
in blue-collar crimes, he said that Anthony Britto, who was engaged in
procuring sex workers and supplying them through a chain, used to get calls
from hoteliers, nightclub owners and taxi operators. When the police arrested
Anthony -- and his associates – he revealed that he used to procure these
sex workers from Delhi, Calcuta, Mumbai. He said this was altogether a
different type of crime. |