MARGAO: Despite claims by the police of strict enforcement of laws prohibiting smoking and spitting in public places, incidents of public smoking continue to rise, and walls and stairwells of both the government and privately-owned commercial buildings across the district still remain splattered with paan and gukta stains.
Recent data from the South Goa police reveals that between January 1 and May 31, this year, a total of 3,114 cases were booked under the Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act.
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Comparatively, during the same period in 2022 (from January 1 to May 31), South Goa police had registered 3,178 cases of smoking and spitting violations. Most of the cases have been recorded at hospital buildings, health institutions, amusement centres, restaurants, hotel lounges, public offices, bus stands, ferry boats and beaches, according to the police.
In 2022, police stations in South Goa recorded a total of 6,625 cases of smoking violations by December 10. Ponda topped the list with 1,402 smokers booked, followed by Canacona with 782, Vasco Railway Station with 882, Curchorem with 605 and Cuncolim with 561 cases.
Surprisingly, Margao, which attracts people from across the State on a regular basis, reported only 506 cases of smoking and spitting violations while Fatorda police booked 355 cases and Maina-Curtorim police booked 187 cases.
Similarly, in 2021, the five Salcete police stations reported booking 1,339 cases and collecting fines amounting to Rs 1,33,900 within the first six months. Margao Town police registered 347 cases, collecting fines of Rs 34,700, while Maina-Curtorim police recorded 272 cases, with fines totalling Rs 27,200. Colva, a popular tourist spot, registered 163 cases, resulting in fines of Rs 16,300. Cuncolim police booked 356 cases, collecting Rs 35,600 in fines and Fatorda police booked 201 cases, with fines amounting to Rs 20,100.
Salcete has witnessed a high number of cases in the past two years, although the crackdown on violators seems to have diminished recently. In 2020, the five police stations in Salcete booked 3,839 cases and in 2019, the highest number of cases (5,059) was registered under the Act.
