Team Herald
PANJIM: Following a spate of offences against women on beaches and drowning incidents, Tourism Department held a comprehensive meeting exploring the possibility of extending beach patrolling between dusk and dawn in order to prevent untoward mishaps and un-warranted activities which it claims is affecting Goa’s image as a safe tourism destination.
The meeting chaired by Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar reiterated that measures have to be put in place through law enforcement, surveillance, awareness drives etc to step up safety and security measures for tourists visiting Goa.
In the last few days, Goa witnessed cases of rape, molestation and assault on two beaches while just recently, Maharashtra youth drowned at Calangute beach after venturing into the sea during the early hours of the day.
“Wherever required the Department of Tourism will move amendments to the Tourist Trade Act in the next Goa Assembly session to impose penalties and fines to serve as deterrents against violators and violations,” Azgaonkar said. The meeting, attended by Tourism Director Menino D’Souza and GTDC MD Nikhil Desai among others, saw suggestions that consumption of alcohol on the beach and driving on the beach should be deemed as offences. Various deliberations have in the past taken place to penalise people drinking and litering on the beaches, but barely any action is taken.
Azgaonkar also urged Drishti to step up beach and water patrolling round the clock and has also offered support in terms of additional equipment, vehicles etc required to monitor the beaches and prevent tourists from venturing into the waters between sunset and sunrise.
Other tourism stakeholders present at the meeting, which included shack operators, were directed to install CCTVs in shacks for the next season failing which licenses would be cancelled. Shack operators were also directed not to encourage or support unauthorised touts, hawkers etc and to discourage people from venturing into the sea in an inebriated condition.
A proposal was also moved to set up village wise committees which include representatives of tourism stakeholders, police and the Department of Tourism who would be responsible for tourism activities within a specific area on the beach. A Whatsapp number would also be set up linked to the law enforcing agency who would act immediately to any reports of violations. Tourism Department has also been directed to increase beach wardens.
During the meeting, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, which has been creating tourism related infrastructure said that the exercise is on to set up high mast lamps on the beach belt and would look into requests for further illumination in areas required. Installation of CCTVs and surveillance systems on key beaches are also underway.
