PANJIM/CALANGUTE: The police and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte are currently at loggerheads over the issue of weeding out the touts from Calangute.
Tourism Minsiter has alleged that the Calangute police station has become defunct. In reply to the allegation, police have said that Department of Tourism can independently act against the menace.
Tourism Minster Khaunte and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo have both blamed the local police for the increasing menace of touts in the Calangute tourist belt. Khaunte has said that the local police station has become defunct and no action was being taken against the illegal touts harassing the tourist and locals alike.
He had also said that illegal touting is the biggest problem for tourism promotion in the state.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) North Goa Nidhin Valsan who was on a visit to Calangute areas on Monday evening said, “Police cannot be blamed for not acting against touts. The Tourism Department as per law can also independently take action against touts,” said Valsan. He added that the police are willing to aid the Tourism Department if needed.
“Calangute gets the maximum number of tourists. Any big place with tourism will always attract touts,” SP North Nidhin Valsan said.
“We are here to support the tourism department, but they can also take action independently. The tourism department is the nodal agency to take action against touts,” he said.
“In 2022, Calangute police apprehended more than 400 touts. This year till now, almost 100 have been rounded up. We apprehend them and prepare a report and hand them over to the Tourism Department, which is the nodal agency. The Tourism Department then charged fine and lets them go,” he said.
The SP said the special drive against beggars, touts and other anti-social elements would continue for a week in the North coastal belt.
“We have formed a combined team of personnel from the police stations, tourist police and coastal police for the drive,” he said.
Around 60 persons were rounded up from Calangute on Tuesday night, according to Calangute police.
