Residents of Polem, a border village in South Goa, are increasingly troubled by rampant public drinking and littering just 150 metres from the local checkpost. Locals report daily harassment and mounting health hazards due to unchecked alcohol consumption and garbage dumping along the roadside. The issue, they say, has escalated with the opening of a wholesale liquor outlet in the vicinity, attracting not just local drinkers but also truck drivers and outsiders who park their vehicles nearby.
According to residents, groups of truck drivers and travelers routinely gather by the roadside to consume alcohol in the open. After drinking, they leave behind piles of empty liquor bottles, plastic glasses, and food waste, creating unsightly and unhygienic conditions. The stench of stale alcohol and rotting food has become a constant nuisance, and the area is now plagued by stray animals scavenging through the trash. Locals also fear the spread of diseases due to the accumulation of garbage and stagnant water in discarded cups and containers.
Women and children, in particular, feel unsafe passing through the area, especially during the evenings when crowds swell. Residents allege that repeated complaints to local authorities have yielded little action, and the problem continues to worsen. They also point out that the easy availability of cheap liquor from the wholesale outlet has exacerbated the issue, drawing more outsiders to the area.