Team Herald
MARGAO: Miffed with the hundreds of gutka sachets (chewing tobacco) along with garbage found strewn on Colva beach during a beach cleaning drive, opposition leaders and the local residents have charged the government of promoting gutka mafia in the State.
Taking serious note of the issue, the locals have alleged that the government authorities have failed in cracking the whip against the illegal selling of gutka in the State of Goa.
“It is very shameful that there is no proper mechanism to crack a whip against the illegalities pertaining to the sale of gutka. Shockingly, the government seems to be promoting the same instead of stopping it,” said Peter Fernandes, a resident of Colva.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Moreno Rebelo has also charged the government and alleged that there is complete collapse of law and order in Goa and scam in beach cleaning contract.
“Mission Total Commission” of the BJP Government has completely ruined the beautiful State of Goa. The BJP Government is spending almost 35 crores on the beach cleaning contract,” Rebelo said.
“Unfortunately piles of garbage are found on the beaches every time a beach cleaning drive is
undertaken by NGOs and other social organisations. This happens because the contractor is not doing his job satisfactorily,” he claimed.
He further said that there is a complete ban on sale and consumption of gutka in the State, but gutka sachets were found in large quantities on the beaches.
“This exposes that the Health Department is conniving with the gutka stockists in Goa. The BJP government is all out to finish the young generation,” he alleged.
