PORVORIM: Aiming to crack down on cooking in public places by groups of tourists, the State government is contemplating an amendment to declare cooking by tourists in the open a nuisance.

Announcing this on the floor of the House, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the government is also contemplating forming special squads to monitor and reprimand tourists who cook in the open spaces and litter.

He was responding to a Zero Hour mention, raised by Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, who demanded strict action against tourists who travel to Goa and cook in public places.

“I have already issued directions to find a solution to the issue and with this the government is contemplating to amend the act to declare cooking in the open spaces by tourists as nuisance, ” said Parrikar

On the special squads Parrikar said, “The squads will be in action by January 2018.” He added, Places in tourist belts will be identified in the coastal tourism-friendly areas in Goa, where low budget tourists travelling by buses wherein tourists can camp and the area can also be earmarked for such cooking. There will be toilet facilities,” he added.