Latest news with #MichaelLobo
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC seeks reply in plea challenging Act on shacks
Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa sought a response from state and central authorities, as well as the Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, in a public interest petition challenging the validity of the Goa Erection of Shacks on Public Beaches (Regulation and Control) Act 2024. Petitioners Desmond Alvares and other environmental activists alleged that the Act is unconstitutional and ultra vires. They submitted that the Act, under the guise of regulating temporary shacks, permits the construction of permanent or semi-permanent structures on beaches, including ecologically sensitive areas such as sand dunes, which are classified as CRZ-1 (A) areas. The Act undermines coastal protection and public safety and lacks provisions for ensuring the structural stability and safety of constructions as it dispenses with critical requirements like structural stability certificates, local calculations and architect conformity letters, the petitioners submitted to the court. They added that the Act allows structures up to nine metres in height (G+2) without adequate safeguards, circumventing existing building regulations and the National Building Code. It also enables the construction of permanent structures under the guise of temporary ones, as evidenced by the use of steel structures with concrete foundations and lacks provisions for completion or occupancy certificates, which are essential to ensure that structures are safe for occupation, they further submitted. The division bench of the high court, comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta, directed the petition to be listed on Aug 4.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Drugs coming in via various routes: Lobo
Calangute: Goa being a tourism destination, all kinds of drugs are being brought into the state and many local youth are becoming drug addicts, said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Tuesday. 'Drugs come from different places by different modes of transport and are supplied to their peddlers here. Because of them, our students become victims of drug abuse,' he said at an awareness programme for students on International Day Against Drug Abuse at Calangute. Lobo said students in the age group of 16-22 years are the most vulnerable as they get to know about the easy availability of drugs. 'Students are offered drugs on the beach or in a club or party. At first they are supplied free of cost, and when the students get used to it, they are charged. They first spend their pocket money. If it is not enough, they tend to ask for money from their friends and sometimes resort to theft,' he said. 'There are so many youngsters at Arpora-Nagoa who are committing theft to pay for their drug habit,' Lobo said, urging students to say 'no' to drugs. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Time of India
Calangute-Baga illegalities need to be curbed further: Lobo
Calangute: More needs to be done to reduce illegal activities in Calangute and Baga, said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Saturday after a hotel in Baga was sealed in connection with the alleged rape of three minors. 'We don't want unwanted elements standing on the road in the middle of the night, creating problems for locals and tourists. We have instructed Calangute PI to deploy women personnel to handle the situation appropriately,' he said. 'We need to investigate whether this is an organised activity, if someone is bringing these people there and collecting money from them,' Lobo said, adding that such activities will not be tolerated. Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said they have initiated an inquiry to check whether the hotel in Baga, where the alleged rape incident took place, had proper building permissions. 'If it does not have required permissions, then we will demolish the structure. We are going to take harsh action,' he said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
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Business Standard
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
'No Ola, Uber in Goa', says CM Sawant as coastal MLAs seek policy pause
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Friday that app-based cab giants Ola and Uber will not come to the state, even though the state has just released the draft 'Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025' for public feedback. MLAs from the coastal belt urged the government to keep the new guidelines 'in abeyance' until a comprehensive, operator-'friendly taxi system is ready. They argued that any policy must first establish uniform fares and protect local livelihoods, the Times of India reported. Sawant convened a meeting with coastal legislators Michael Lobo and Jit Arolkar, along with representatives of taxi operators, to allay fears. 'There should be no confusion among the people as it is just a guideline for aggregators. Ola and Uber will not come here. We will take all stakeholders, including hotels, taxis and MLAs, into confidence to put a system in place. We will resolve this issue. All should remain calm,' the chief minister said. Last month, the Goa government released a draft version of the Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, proposing a regulatory structure for app-based taxi and bike taxi services. The draft covers aspects such as licensing charges, fare structures, and incentives for operators. However, taxi unions across the state have strongly opposed the move, warning that it could open the door for private app-based aggregators and jeopardise the livelihoods of local taxi drivers. Arolkar, speaking after the meeting, said the primary aim was to dispel taxi drivers' worries about outside competition. 'During the meeting, it was decided to have equal taxi fares across the state,' he said. Local control over taxi business Michael Lobo reiterated that the taxi trade must stay in Goan hands. 'We have demanded that the guidelines should be kept in abeyance. We want taxi operators' issues to be addressed systematically. There should be no bargaining while hiring a taxi. Tourists should leave with good memories. Customers should know the exact rate. We want the taxi business to remain with locals only,' he said, as quoted by the news report. Lobo added that although fares should not be set arbitrarily, a common structure acceptable to all operators is necessary. 'All taxi operators will agree to this, and there will be another meeting to resolve the issue,' he said. Taxi operators lobby MLAs Since the transport department invited objections and suggestions on the draft rules, taxi unions have begun meeting MLAs in every constituency, seeking political backing to block the entry of aggregator platforms and safeguard local drivers' interests. The government, meanwhile, insists it will not finalise any policy changes without first reaching a consensus among taxi owners, legislators, hoteliers, and other stakeholders.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Ola, Uber not coming to Goa: CM Sawant
With Goa's traditional taxi operators raising concerns regarding the draft transport guidelines, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said cab aggregators like Ola and Uber would not come to the state and that all stakeholders would be taken into confidence before 'resolving the issue'. Speaking to the media after a meeting with Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Sawant said, 'On the taxi issue, Jit and Michael and others came to meet me. People should not create confusion. These are the guidelines brought out for aggregators. Ola and Uber are not coming here. We have to put a system in place. We will take everyone into confidence before resolving the issue. All the stakeholders — taxi owners, hoteliers and MLAs — will be taken into confidence. Ola, Uber are not coming.' Last month, the Goa government published draft guidelines — Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 — outlining a regulatory framework for app-based taxi and bike taxi operators including licensing fees, tariffs and incentives, to regulate app-based transport aggregators. Taxi unions across the state have threatened to stage protests, saying the move will pave the way for entry of private app-based taxi aggregators and threaten their livelihood. The transport department has sought suggestions and objections, before the guidelines are notified. Last Monday, hundreds of taxi operators queued outside the transport department office in Panaji and submitted their written objections to the draft guidelines. Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said the taxi operators fear that their businesses will shut down if private app-based aggregators enter the state. 'We had a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss these concerns. A delegation of taxi operators was also present. The Chief Minister has assured that app-based aggregators from outside the state will not be allowed. But at the same time, the system has to be streamlined and digitised and the fares need to be uniform for all,' said Arolkar. Michael Lobo, BJP MLA from Calangute, said the taxi operators have demanded that these draft guidelines be kept in abeyance. 'It has been assured that a meeting of MLAs from constituencies in the coastal belt and all the other stakeholders will be called before a final decision is taken on the guidelines,' Lobo said.
