Residents of Polem, a village near Goa’s southernmost border, are grappling with a growing nuisance just 150 metres from the checkpost, where public drinking, open defecation, and garbage dumping have turned the area into a health and safety hazard.
Locals allege that truck drivers and outsiders routinely park along this roadside stretch to consume alcohol openly, leaving behind empty liquor bottles, plastic cups, and food waste. Adding to the problem, a nearby wholesale outlet is reportedly dumping used cans and bottles, making it hazardous for pedestrians, especially schoolchildren and women, to walk past the area.
Several women have voiced concern over feeling unsafe due to the rowdy behavior of intoxicated individuals. The situation is further aggravated by instances of open defecation, effectively turning the roadside into an unsanitary public toilet.
Residents have urged local authorities and the excise department to take urgent action by increasing surveillance, enforcing stricter penalties, and ensuring regular cleanup drives to restore basic hygiene and public safety in the area.