Team Herald
PANJIM: Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar has again pointed fingers at Goa Police claiming some black sheep are hand in glove with drug traffickers in the State. He, however, assured that Goa government will take steps to curb this.
“I suspect there are some police officers involved in protecting the drug trade and without their support, it cannot sustain for so long. But there is nothing to worry because Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) has taken the issue seriously. The government will not compromise on curbing the menace,” he told reporters on Thursday.
He stated that North Goa SP Kartik Kashyap, who led a series of crackdowns on the narcotics trade, while heading the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC), is also committed to cleanse the State of drugs. “Kashyap also told the CM that he will not comprise on this. Sale of drugs will not be tolerated. We won’t allow our generation to be finished due to drugs,” he said adding, “We all 40 legislators should come together and take strict action.”
In a bid to assist the police to clampdown on the trade, the minister has asked beach cleaning staff, as well as personnel attached with the Tourism Department, to inform the police about suspected drug trafficking in the coastal belt.
On the beach cleaning issue, Azgaonkar said staff of Drishti Lifesaving Services was carrying out the exercise and the department has not received any complaints.
As a stopgap arrangement, until concrete measures are put in place, Tourism Department recently launched a WhatsApp initiative wherein people can reach to Drishti by sending a picture of the garbage and the location. “The designated contractor will take corrective measures within 24 hours and a feedback is being delivered to WhatsApp sender. Tourism Department is monitoring the situation round the clock,” an official said.
