PANJIM:
Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar has once again pointed fingers at the Goa
police claiming some black sheep are hand in gloves with the drug traffickers
in the State. He, however, assured that Goa government will take every step to
ensure curbing the menace.
“I
suspect there are some police officers involved in protecting drug trade and
without their support, it cannot sustain for so long. But there is nothing to
worry because Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) has taken up the issue seriously.
The government will not compromise on curbing the menace,” he told reporters on
Thursday.
He
stated that North Goa SP Kartik Kashyap, who led a series of crackdown on
narcotics trade while heading the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) is also committed to
zero tolerance to drugs. “Kashyap has also told CM that he will not comprise on
this… The sale of drugs will not be tolerated. We won’t allow our generation to
be finished due to drugs,” he said quickly adding, “We all 40 legislators
should come together and take strict action.”
In
a bid to assist the police to clampdown on the trade, the minister has asked
the beach cleaning staff as well as personnel attached with the tourism
department to inform the police about suspected drug trafficking in the coastal
belt.
On
the beach cleaning issue, Azgaonkar said the staff of Drishti Lifesaving
Services was carrying out the exercise and the department has not received any
complaints in the recent past.
As
a stop gap arrangement until concrete measures are put in place, the Tourism
Department recently launched WhatsApp initiative wherein the public can reach
to Drishti by sending a picture of the garbage and the location. “The
designated contractor will take corrective measures within 24 hours and a
feedback is being delivered to WhatsApp sender. The tourism department is
monitoring the situation round the clock,” an official said.
