Team Herald
PANJIM: Following criticism of inaction against tourists creating nuisance in the State, the State Cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to ban and penalise roadside cooking, drinking on beaches with a penalty amounting up to Rs 10,000 and three months imprisonment.
Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar told media persons after the Cabinet meeting that the proposals have been cleared by the Cabinet and will be placed before the Assembly at the forthcoming session.
“Those seen with bottles or breaking them on the beach will be fined Rs 2,000 and if a group is found cooking and drinking in public places/open places, they will be fined Rs 10,000. If they refuse to pay the penalty, an offence will be registered and there will be a jail sentence of three months,” Azgaonkar said.
The Tourism Minister further said, “The Cabinet has cleared this proposal today and will be brought in the coming Assembly session and will become a law.”
Azgaonkar said that Goa is a God’s gift and the natural beauty like beaches, churches and temples have to be saved. “The tourist must also follow the law of the land and see that Goem, Goenkar and Goemkarponn is saved,” he added.
The minister said that the department will implement the rules strictly as per law. He further said that the government has also decided to penalise illegal booking of houses/guest houses by travel agencies.
“Some travel agencies are now going into houses to make online bookings. We will not allow them, only those who are registered with Tourism Department will be allowed to let out their rooms,” he said and added that an offence would be registered against those who do not follow the norms.
