Goa's nightlife is facing a crackdown ahead of the Christmas and New Year season, with the state government launching an intensive drive to inspect and seal establishments flouting norms after a deadly nightclub fire.
Interpol has issued a Blue Notice against the owners of a Goa nightclub who fled after a fire claimed 25 lives. Police are investigating violations and illegalities related to the nightclub's operation.
'When an establishment operates despite demolition or closure orders, without proper fire exits, evacuation plans or safety audits, and yet is allowed to host large crowds, the state cannot hide behind the language of accident.' 'The authorities were aware of the risks and of the violations, but chose not to act decisively because doing so would have inconvenienced those with influence and financial stakes.' 'In such a scenario, the moral and legal responsibility for the resulting deaths moves from negligence towards culpability; calling it 'murder' is a way of underlining that these lives were sacrificed at the altar of greed and complicity, not fate.'
Registration of a homestay with the tourism department is mandated under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982.
Observing that the accused has the propensity to influence the trial, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former Goa Tourism Minister Francisco Mickey Pacheco in connection with the death of his woman friend.
Goa Tourism Minister Matanhy Saldanha died at a hospital in Panaji after suffering a massive heart attack in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has courted controversy after he described the accused in the gang rape as "nave".
The state expects rise in the tourists from Russia, CIS countries, Poland, Scandinavia and Finland.
Adding to the troubles of former Goa minister Fransisco Pacheco, booked in connection with the death of his close friend, CBI has registered a case against him for allegedly acquiring US visas on forged documents.
This instruction forms part of an advisory issued by the Goa tourism department for tourists and the set of directives is aimed to protect the privacy of travellers
A 75-year-old French actor has alleged she is being held "hostage" in her house at Calangute in North Goa since earlier this week over a property dispute and finds herself in a "dangerous situation".
Plan your day trekking, camping, swimming, bird-watching around these spots.
Tourists will either have to carry COVID-19 negative certificates to enter the state, or will have to get tested at the border and undergo quarantine at a state-run facility till their results arrive.
GoAir has tied up with Goa Tourism Development Corporation to promote tourism to Goa and to and to develop a common brand GoGoa.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has sought time to respond to the Calling Attention motion moved by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Michael Lobo on the issue of Playboy Club, which has sought permission to open a branch in the state.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told the state legislative assembly on Monday that the government is considering Playboy's proposal to set up a club at Candolim beach, while responding to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Michael Lobo on the floor of the House.
Estimates of decline in arrivals vary from 30-50 per cent. Rouble fell to 80 against the dollar on Tuesday, but settled around 72 against the dollar its steepest fall in sixteen years.
"I became irritated with Melroy D'Souza as he was chasing me in his jeep," he later said.
Pacheco is currently undergoing treatment for hypertension, jaundice and urinary tract infection at the Hospicio hospital in Margao.
The 46-year-old Nationalist Congress Party lawmaker arrived at CBI's office in Bambolim village near Panaji after he was summoned by the central agency. However, there was no official word on whether he was detained or not.
On the run for nearly a month, Goa's former Tourism Minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco on Saturday surrendered before the Sessions Court in Margao in connection with the death of his friend Nadia Torrado.
The Bombay High Court bench on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former Goa Tourism Minister Francisco Mickey Pacheco in connection with the death of his friend Nadia Torrado.
Former Goa tourism minister Francisco Mickey Pacheco has moved the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the death of his friend Nadia Torrado in Chennai. The bail plea is likely to be listed for hearing on Thursday. The Goa bench of the Bombay high court had on June 21 rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Pacheco. It had also turned down the bail plea of his close aide Lyndon Monteiro on technical grounds.
Former Goa tourism minister Micky Pacheco was on Monday granted bail by a local court in connection with the Nadia Torrado death case.Margao District and Sessions Judge B P Deshpande granted bail to Pacheco, who was admitted to a hospital in Panaji on Sunday evening after he complained of chest pain, on a Rs 25,000 bond and surety of an equal amount.
Goa is expecting around 40,000 foreign tourists to celebrate their Christmas and New Year in the coastal state this year, according to officials.
'If you weed out corruption, you will bring glory to Goa.'
The government plans to set up budget hotels at 100 identified tourists sites and improve onshore infrastructure for berthing of cruise ships as part of major exercise to improve tourism facilities in the country.
'A witless thriller so far removed from reality yet so consumed by its own self-seriousness, no amount of slick photography, soaring soundtrack or steady supply of conspiracy can salvage its tepid material,' notes Sukanya Verma.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader's remarks came a day after a 39-year-old local woman was allegedly raped at knifepoint by a Nigerian at Parra village.
The company has introduced motorised boats in Mandovi river, which is the major river in the coastal state, with vast picturesque backwaters.
An industry source said the Act would create high-entry barriers for new service providers and limit customer choice
The Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced that it will observe the birthday of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a simple manner in Panaji on Sunday.
He further stated that if the Nigerians come to India to study then the state government and the police should keep a strict watch on them.
Taxi drivers were demanding withdrawal of notification making it mandatory to install speed governors.
Unfazed by the controversy over his comments on the gangrape of two Delhi-based women in Goa, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar on Saturday maintained it was a "small incident" and that it occurs where tourism flourishes.
'We don't want hardcores like Pramod Muthalik in Goa. We vehemently oppose people who share Muthalik's tendencies. We don't need cultural watchdogs in Goa.' BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh lashes out at Goa's anti-bikini minister Sudin Dhavalikar in this exclusive interview to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com
Amphibian buses have a capacity to carry 32 persons and cost Rs 2 cr. Amphibian Tours plans to introduce six such buses for tourists over a year
Chartered flights may increase 34% from last year as more Russian tourists come calling.
A look at all the times Goa played Bollywood's favourite getaway on screen.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa director Kundan Shah tells Patcy N/ Rediff.com how he impressed he was with Shah Rukh in his early years.
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