App to keep in check beggars, hawkers on beaches soon, asserts Ajgaonkar

says constables have been empowered to arrest them; fines for illegal biz hiked by `5,000

the goan I network

PANAJI

The Goa tourism department will launch an app that will help people lodge complaints about hawkers, beggars and drunken persons creating nuisance on the State’s beaches.

The Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism Manohar ‘Babu’ Ajgaonkar on Tuesday held a meeting with the officials of tourism department and discussed various measures, primarily for tourism stakeholders and shack owners, for maintaining discipline on the beaches.

The main decision taken during the meeting was to create an app for informing any violations of the Shack Policy 2019-2021. The monitoring will be done through officers, police department and the tourism department.

“We will start a new app within one month and people which can assist people to lodge a complaint along with photo evidence that will help police act immediately,” informed Azgaonkar.

“Tourists and locals can help the Goa government keep beaches clean by lodging complaints through this app. Action will be taken by the police immediately,” he added.

Two years back the government had also introduced the WhatsApp complaint system for lodging complaints of garbage on the beaches. The Tourism Minister said the same system will run simultaneously.

The minister further said the government has given powers to head constables to arrest beggars and hawkers. Also, fines for illegal business by these people on beaches has been increased to Rs 5000 with the provision of arrest, he informed.

Ajgaonkar assured that hawkers, vendors, beggars and drinking on beaches will be stopped completely.

He also informed that special one or two picnic zones on each beach will be formed to allow drinking with permission.

“There will be one or two picnic zones on the beaches where alcohol consumption will be allowed with permission,” said the minister.

He informed that smart e-toilets or biodigester toilets should be installed with proper sewage collection and disposal facilities.

Other measures taken include the erection of signboards on the beaches, music/sound violations, demarcation of swimming and bathing zones and demarcation of hawker zones.

The minister said that the agency, Drishti Lifesaving, has been warned and asked to start recruiting more lifeguards so that drowning cases are avoided.

‘Eat, make merry, but no sale of alcohol at Carnival’

the goan I network

PANAJI

Even though the message of Carnival is eat, drink and make merry, Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar said no liquor sale will be allowed at the festive venues, even as he warned those into liquor sale business to refrain from doing so.

This year Carnival will be held from February 22 to 25.

“Enjoy the Carnival. Alcohol sale on the roads are not allowed. Enjoyment is necessary, alcohol is necessary, but it should be taken within a limit,” said the Tourism Minister. “We want to showcase Goan culture through Carnival. Four days we want to soak into revelry,” he said and added, “The government is spending around Rs 1.5 crore for the event which will benefit tourism in the state.”

The festivities will be held in Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Curchorem, Mapusa, Morjim and Quepem. The authorities have changed the Carnival parade routes in some cities to make the event more popular. The Tourism Minister has specifically warned that no floats with a theme opposing CAA will be allowed and only Goan culture will be allowed to be showcased.

He said that screening committees appointed by the Carnival organising panels will check every float and select good ones.

Meanwhile, King Momo Shalom Sardinha said that he will be available for selfies with the revelers.