Canacona being home to some of the most exotic beaches like Palolem, it always receives hordes of foreign tourists.
The beaches also get a lot of desi tourists who are often seen in groups with beer bottles in hand. They are also seen drinking in open spaces till late night.
So much so, that after being high on alcohol, they then head towards the sea.
Lifeguards deployed at Palolem beach said it’s next to impossible to control the desi tourists once they are excessively drunk and want to go into the water. They suggested that alcohol is an important risk factor for drowning.
“These local tourists from neighbouring States don’t listen to the lifeguards and the better option is to depute police personnel at least during day time” said Pankaj Naikgaonkar, who is in the tourism related business.
“They themselves risk their own lives by venturing deep in the water even when they don’t know to swim” said a shack owner.
“The authorities have to stop this menace of domestic tourits drinking in the open,” added a local. Police sources aid that they are booking cases for smoking, spitting and creating commotion by drinking in public places at regular intervals. However, the fine is just a few hundred rupees in some instances and this doesn’t deter them from indulging in these activities.
“A warning board put up by the tourism department at the entrance of Palolem beach warning visitors not to indulge in these activities was washed away during last month’s cyclone and the law enforcement agencies find it tough to enforce the law in such a scenario. The tourism department has to erect a new board at a prominent place on the beach displaying the ‘do’s and don’ts’ at public places,” added Palolem councilor Dayanand Pagi.
