Years ago, our newspapers were inundated with news of tourist drownings on Goan shores. Then in 2008, over 600 trained lifeguards were deployed as part of the Dhrishti Lifesaving Services across every single beach stretch in Goa. This led to a marked reduction in drowning deaths in the Arabian sea. Off late, however, there has been a marked rise in the number of drowning deaths in Goa’s hinterlands. The most recent incidents include the deaths of 20-something’s at Codal river in Ponda and Movacho Guno, a rivulet in Sonal-Sattari. In response, the villagers of Sonal have demanded a ban on tourists visiting the spot. This, in itself, is a ridiculous demand. Aside from the fact that ‘banning’ stuff outright seems to be the go-to measure for anything and everything that may or may not offend, the practicality of this ultra-precise ban lies in its enforcement. For starters, how is one going to differentiate between a local and a tourist? And who is going to invoke the embargo on site? As vast and diverse as Goa is, most tourists often skip the serenity of the hinterland and flock to its beaches. As a result, Goa’s tourism department is looking divert tourists to its beautiful hinterland. Bans like this, however, beat the purpose. Instead, why not put up some signboards informing tourists of the depth and dangers of such water bodies. And given the fact that Dhrishti’s lifeguards are doing an excellent job of manning the shores, why not deploy a few to such popular sites as well?
