Heli-rides are a boon, GTDC tells locals

“Will Nilesh Cabral have the courage to address an independent gathering of environmentalists, tourism activists, socialists and economists and put forward his facts? Can he pledge that he will withdraw his absurd plan is proven wrong?”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Heli-rides-are-a-boon-GTDC-tells-locals/articleshow/51324158.cms

Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) has urged the locals of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim (CAC) not to be swayed away by anti-government factions with regards to helicopter joyrides and to consider this new tourism initiative as an advantage and boon for the area and surrounding villages.

Responding to criticism from the Cansaulim village action committee (CVAC) and Cansaulim Arossim Cuelim civic consumer forum (CACCCF), the GTDC on Tuesday in a press note, clarified that there is nothing illegal about the helicopter joyrides and the operators (Pawan Hans), is a government of India enterprise.

It has got the required statutory clearances/permissions from the director general of civil aviation (DGCA), Navy, district administration, airport authority and the police to conduct commercial heli-joyride services from its current base in South Goa. The GTDC further pointed out that Pawan Hans has a similar service operating in neighbouring Maharashtra (Mumbai) where the joyrides are a huge success.

 GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said, “Tourism initiatives like helicopter joyrides will attract high-end and quality tourists to Goa and introducing such activities has become the need of the hour.” The statement issued by GTDC further said that objections raised by the two groups from Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim are baseless and categorically stated that helicopter joyrides from the South Goa- based starred hotel at Arossim will continue.
Pawan Hans has also said that helicopter joyrides do not cause any noise pollution or damage to the environment.
They said that the Bell-206 helicopter, used for joyrides, is a two-bladed single engine helicopter with extremely low-noise signature.