PANAJI
Even as ministers and legislators besides top bureaucrats actively participated in beach-cleaning drives across Goa on Saturday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made a fervent plea to the State's youth to partner the authorities in the drive against narcotics.
At Miramar where one such cleaning drive was held as part of the 'Clean Coast, Safe Sea' campaign on International Coastal Cleanup day, Sawant said the 'No to Drugs' drive is being worked on by the Anti-Narcotic Cell and the Goa police.
"Youngsters should participate... show the world that Goa is a safe destination," Sawant said while speaking at the event.
The chief minister also said that the coast and the sea is largely the mainstay of Goa's economy and lauded Goans for their efforts to sustainably use the 104-kilometer coastline.
"We are a State of sun, sand and sea. Tourists are attracted here from all over the world. We need to pass it on to the next generation," Sawant said, adding that Goa should become the country's tourism capital.
Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai also participated in the event as did Union minister Shripad Naik and Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
Elsewhere in Calangute, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte participated in the drive where he said, to retain Goa's 'sun, sand and sea' USP, clean and safe beaches need to be ensured. Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar led the drive at Morjim beach.
