PANJIM: The recently-launched new car park at Benaulim Beach has been a boon and a bane for the public. This car park is the one that is located five minutes away from the beach on the left side.
On one hand, this parking area constructed by the Tourism Department has resolved issues related to parking for beach visitors. Earlier, with no parking facility, commuters were forced to park on the beach and most vehicles were parked in a haphazard manner.
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The new facility, which has multiple lanes for vehicles to park and other facilities like a public utilities & changing room and a tourism facility centre, it is also unfortunately being misused by some anti-social elements.
“The new car park at Benaulim Beach is a place for hooligans at night. They drink and litter the place. The tourist police nearby seem to be sleeping. It’s time the police pull up their socks,” said Rudolf Barreto from Benaulim.
“The car park is fitted with lamp posts but they are yet to be switched on. They were tested last year somewhere in November. The unlit area is ideal for mischief mongers,” he added.
Benaulim locals complained that the youth come to the parking area in cars which are well stocked with liquor and a powerful car audio system.
What has upset the residents further is that many who hang out here at night and drink are Goans.
Recently, concerns were raised by a shack owner when a young female tourist from Mangalore was threatened when she was walking to a beach shack from the parking lot at night. Luckily, she fled to the shack while her fiancé charged at these hooligans, who ran away after an alarm was raised.
The shack owner said such incidents will give the State and Benaulim a bad name. “It’s the unsuspecting travellers who are the victims of this irresponsibility,” said Barreto.
Locals say because of the easy availability of cheap liquor from wholesale outlets and the fact that the area is unmanned, the youth are not scared and allegedly indulge in binge drinking and even consumption of drugs here.
Another local, Jose Fernandes, Konkani stage actor, director and president of the Kharvi Bhavancho Ekvott, questioned why police are not taking this matter seriously.
“If the police cannot monitor the area, leave it to the locals, we will do the needful. Ideally, police should take action against those who are indulging in such public drinking and consumption of drugs here late night. This happens almost every night” he said.
Other locals however felt that such persons have connections with influential people and are let scot free and not scared of the authorities.
They said such anti-social activities create an unsafe environment for the public.
“They should have two gates to check for entry and exit of all vehicles and also CCTV camera surveillance. This facility was meant for car parking but is being used for such anti-social activity that goes on for hours,” Fernandes claimed.
Locals also point out to the empty liquor bottles and other waste material left at the parking facility, which passersby can see during the day.
