Govt puts digi queue system for watersports on hold

Panaji: Watersports operators, who have been opposing Goa Electronic Ltd’s (GEL) proposed manned digital queue system for the past several months, got a reprieve on Monday after the government agreed to temporarily put the plan on hold.
The government has decided to allow operators to continue with their existing manual queue system for the remainder of the tourist season.
However, watersports associations will have to submit their suggestions and ideas for implementing the queue system and other requirements to the government in the next 15 days.
The solution was arrived at after chief minister Pramod Sawant held a lengthy discussion with coastal MLAs and watersports operators along with tourism minister Rohan Khaunte.
A few months ago, the tourism department announced the introduction of a GEL-operated digital queue system for watersports activities as per the high court directive.
“They have been told that they will have to follow the system and do away with touts,” Sawant told reporters post the meeting.
Khaunte said touts are their only concern and that the high court order was implemented in this regard.
“We have asked the watersports association to come up with suggestions. We are putting our plan on hold till their suggestions are received,” said Khaunte.
The issue was raised in the recently-concluded budget session of the legislative assembly last week, with opposition members questioning the government for introducing GEL-operated digital counters.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the operators are currently following a queue system, however, some hotels and touts overcharge guests with their own ‘packages’.
“They charge double the actual cost of a product. When their guests come to a beach and see the rate chart, the variation becomes obvious,” said Lobo.
The Calangute MLA said they have informed the government that if there is any complaint, it should be probed.
“If the travel agency charges more than the rate levied by the watersports association, the former should be held guilty,” said Lobo.
A demo of GEL’s digital counter was given to watersports operators at the meeting. However, this did not find favour with the operators.