Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has expressed serious concern over rising incidents of tourist injuries caused by broken glass and plastic waste, particularly along Goa’s beaches and public spaces. Speaking in the Assembly, Khaunte emphasized the need for greater public discipline and tighter enforcement to prevent such avoidable mishaps.
“Tourist safety is being compromised due to irresponsible littering. Public drinking is already treated as a nuisance, and now injuries from broken bottles are becoming a serious issue,” the Minister said. To tackle the problem, Khaunte highlighted the introduction of a bottle deposit system, designed to discourage littering and ensure proper disposal of glass containers.
The issue was raised by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who cited a recent incident where a tourist suffered injuries from broken glass. Lobo urged the government to consider banning glass bottles altogether in popular tourist areas to curb the growing menace.
Khaunte acknowledged the concern and said the government is exploring stricter measures to address the issue holistically, while balancing the needs of tourism, public safety, and environmental protection.