Calangute turning into ‘gadda tourism’ hub, says ex-MLA

Calangute: There are hundreds of food carts operating without FDA permissions in Calangute, turning the village into a “gadda tourism” destination, said former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes on Saturday, criticising the panchayat decision to close all restaurants by 11pm.“I have heard there are around 300 ‘gaddas’ (food carts) in Calangute, which stay open till 7am, and all run by outsiders. If you are closing restaurants by 11pm and allowing the ‘gaddas’ to stay open till 7am, then there is some ulterior motive. Many restaurants have excise licences to stay open till 4-5am,” Fernandes said.“Tourists do not eat food at good restaurants; they only eat at ‘gaddas’ which serve items like ‘vada-pav’,” he said, claiming that they are allowed only because they pay ‘haftas’.The ex-MLA also said that some wedding venues could be allowed to operate until midnight, provided they are in isolated areas with no nearby houses. Referring to reports of the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) plan to enforce the 10pm deadline for loud music, he said noise pollution becomes an issue when people are disturbed.“Earlier weddings were village affairs with all villagers involved, so no one complained. But now people from Candolim or Calangute hold weddings in halls in Mapusa or elsewhere. For hosts, it’s just one day, but for people of that neighbourhood, weddings happen daily, and they complain when they get disturbed. If no one lives nearby, events could be allowed till midnight. The law has always been there, but emotionally we feel weddings should be allowed to go on late,” he said.