‘Assess carrying capacity of state, Goa turning into Delhi’s extension’

Panaji: Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday said Goa govt should assess the carrying capacity of the state, as people from across the country — particularly North India — want to settle in Goa.
“So many people are living in Goa, more than ever. If you ask somebody in Delhi where they live, they say that I sometimes come to Delhi but normally live in Goa,” Prabhu said.“So, Goa should be after some time called Delhi’s extension. Everybody from the North wants to come to Goa.”
Prabhu made the statements while speaking at the golden jubilee function of The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) in Panaji.
He added, “Every officer who retires wants to come to Goa, and nothing wrong in that as Goa is part of India and everybody has a right to go anywhere they want.”
But the point is, Prabhu said, can Goa take so many people?
“Tourists come to Goa too,” he said. “As I said, we cannot stop anybody from coming. And we should welcome tourists. Goa govt should undertake a carrying capacity study.”
Prabhu said that the study will determine how much load Goa can handle to maintain its fisheries, agriculture, sustainable tourism, and good practices.
“Based on the carrying capacity, where tourism can be encouraged, in what manner, and what practices need to be followed can be decided,” he added.
Goa environment minister Aleixo Sequeira, who also spoke at the function, said a study through National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is under way to ascertain the carrying capacity of the coastal areas in the state.