177 touts booked in Oct, but who is answerable for Calangute menace?

MAPUSA
North Goa Police booked 177 persons for illegal touting in October, but the latest crackdown has renewed questions over why the menace continues to plague the state’s coastal belt despite repeated complaints from elected representatives and public criticism of enforcement.
The issue has come under sharper scrutiny after Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte publicly blamed the Calangute police inspector for the rise in touting during the Sarkar Tumchya Dari programme in Calangute a few days ago. The minister’s remarks have put police accountability in focus in a constituency central to Goa’s tourism economy.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has repeatedly spoken against the touting menace, while sarpanch Joseph Sequeira has also raised concerns. The Opposition parties, too, has flagged the issue, making illegal touting a recurring concern cutting across political lines.
According to a press release issued by North Goa Police, 69 persons were arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), while 108 were prosecuted under the Goa Tourist Trade Act during October. Special drives were conducted in coastal police station jurisdictions and at Mopa Airport Police Station. Police have promised continued action.
However, the figures alone do not establish whether the action is curbing the problem. The persistence of touting despite repeated drives raises questions about sustained enforcement, action against repeat offenders and measures to prevent the trade from continuing.
With the Tourism Minister himself publicly questioning policing in Calangute, the issue is no longer just about the number of people booked. The larger test is whether enforcement can deliver lasting results in Goa’s coastal tourism belt.