TEAM HERALD

PANJIM:  Weeks  after the  tourist  security  force  was disbanded  by  the   government,  a  proposal  has  been  moved  for  introducing coastal  security  guards  by  the  state’s Tourism Department.

Tourism  minister  Dilip  Parulekar said the department proposes  to  have a  separate  coastal  security  force  to  police Goa’s beach belt.

“This   force will  keep  an eye  on all tourism-related  activities ,”  he  said.

According  to  Parulekar  the   proposed  strength   of  the  coastal  security  force  would  be   around  300  and will  be under  the  supervision of  the  superintendents  of police in the  North  and  South  of  Goa.

Presently  there  are   a  few  tourist  security  personnel   of  the  police  department  monitoring  the  beach belt. However  the new force  is  proposed  to  be  put  in place  before  the   coming   tourism  season.

The  tourism minister  said  that  the  force  will be  inducted  into  by  the  Tourism Department.

This  would  include water  sports  activities and  shack  operations.   The  force  will have the  mandate  to  check on all  unauthorised  activities,    which  also  includes  harassment to  tourists,  unauthorised  water  sports  operations  and more.

In the meantime, the  department is also  proposing to tie  up with  local panchayats  to keep beach  belts clear  of garbage.

Parulekar  said  that the  Goa tourism ministry  has   Rs  50  crore  to  be  utilised  for beach  cleaning.

“We  will provide  vehicles and  funds  to panchayats  to collect solid waste,” he  said.

The  minister also  said  that  the  panchayats  will   have to   collect  garbage generated  from  shacks and   shack  operators  will  have to  strictly  abide   with   order pertaining  to  garbage  disposal.

The  Tourism Ministry is  also   exploring   the  idea  of  new  bio-digester   toilets  at  all tourist  spots  in the  state.  The   ministry  has  received  a  proposal  from an Indian  based  company  which   has  introduced   the  new   technology.