Team Herald
PORVORIM: Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar has yet again come down heavily on those groups of tourists creating nuisance in the coastal State. He has out rightly asked tourists to stay away from Goa if they do not respect Goa’s culture.
“Tourists who do not respect the culture of Goa and indulge into activities like littering or peddling/consuming drugs are not welcome to Goa. Tourists arriving in the State should know to respect the local culture and avoid creating nuisance on the beaches,” he told the House in response to a starred question tabled by Opposition’s Filipe Neri Rodrigues on the nuisance on Goan beaches.
The minister, however, conceded that despite attempts by the government, hawkers, beggars and other nuisance makers return to the beaches. “I have already instructed that no nuisance will be tolerated. Since I have taken over as tourism minister, I have been holding meetings to ensure our beaches are rid off such menace,” he said adding that the existing laws do not have enough teeth to tackle nuisance created by hawkers or vendors on the beaches.
“I still say that we don’t want tourists who arrive here and create nuisance and do not respect our culture. We don’t want them if they litter on the beaches or do drugs,” he commented.
The minister also differentiated between Goans and tourists claiming, “A Goan will walk straight on the road while tourists walk shaking their body when they are drunk. Goans can handle themselves in such a situation.” His remark was taken funnily by the other members of the legislative assembly who burst into laughter.
Azgaonkar continued his reply in the House stating that the department has been working to clear nuisance like stray animals, garbage and illegal hawkers on the beaches, but they resurface time and again. “We want to strengthen the existing Tourism Act which will help us to curb this nuisance,” he said.
He also said that India Reserve Batallion (IRB) posted on the beaches does not have enough powers and they have to depend on local police to take action. “Whenever we confiscate things from the hawkers illegally present on the beach, they never come back to pay fine or take back their belongings. They just run away,” he said. The minister said that Director of Tourism has already issued circular listing out banned activities on the beaches.
“This Department has deployed IRB Police/Tourist Police, Ex-servicemen and Tourist Wardens on the beaches of Goa for ensuring safety and security of the tourists. Regular patrolling on foot as well as on vehicles and motorcycles is carried out by Tourist Police and Tourist wardens posted at different locations on the beach. Furthermore, whosoever carries out illegalities of selling any unauthorised sales on the beaches and touristic places are penalised under Section 25A of Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982. The articles/materials are confiscated and fines starting with minimum of Rs 10,000 are imposed. This may extend to Rs 25,000 under the said Act,” states his written reply.
On the garbage on the beaches, Azgaonkar said the department had roped in Drishti Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd. with effect from December 17, 2016 and it is continued further upto September 12, 2018.
