Abel Pascoal Barretto
CANACONA: Inspite of Canacona Police booking 739 cases of smoking and spitting together with consumption of tobacco products in Canacona, the public spitting has assumed gigantic proportion at places where labourers assemble every morning and evening at Chaudi, Canacona.
Sources at Canacona Police Station disclosed that from the beginning of January this year till now they have booked a record 739 cases under Smoking/Spitting Act, which poses a fine of Rs 100.
“Inspite of Canacona Police enforcing, the law in letter and spirit, the places in front of Canacona Municipality and at Chaudi Junction have turned into a spitting zone,” alleged the concerned locals.
Many labourers gather in the morning to be picked up by prospective employers and evening after work at Chaudi Junction, which is the commercial town of the taluka.
Most of these migrants enjoy chewing these products and frequently spit on the foot paths and roads.
“At some places there is not even a space to keep one’s foot,” say the locals, who come to the town for various needs ranging from shopping to visiting the government offices.
The Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997 which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in 1999 prohibits use of tobacco in any form and spitting in public places.
“But with the law enforcement agencies leaving the culprits after paying a fine of Rs 100 doesn’t dither the offenders from repeating the offence again and again,” feel the concerned residents of Canacona.
Diogo Da’Silva, a prominent activist and president of Canacona Traders Association speaking to this correspondent highlighted that this practice of spitting everywhere is harmful as these migrants may be suffering from some diseases.
“These places where they spit are frequented by public and school going children and this habit should be banned altogether by taking into consideration the health concerns of the locals,” Da’Silva emphasised.
