the goan I network
MARGAO
Picnickers, beware. The next time you plan a picnic along the Salcete coastal belt, including the Betalbatim beach belt, make sure you do not carry liquor bottles or beer cartoons.
There are chances that the tourist police may rein in on liquor or beer consumption on the beach belt by confiscating the liquor consignment as the ban on liquor consumption is not only applicable to the visiting domestic or foreign tourists, but also local picnickers as well.
For, the tourist police, whose jurisdiction extends right from Cavelossim to Majorda along the Salcete coast, has started a campaign in favour of a liquor or beer-free picnic along the belt. With the government notification on ban on consumption of liquor in public places yet to come till date, the tourist police have been given a brief to make the picnickers see reason and stop consumption of liquor on the beach.
Thursday saw a tourist police team led by PSI Anandu Rane making its presence felt at the Betalbatim beach, only to find a group of picnickers on the sand dune with food and booze as well. The police team made the group understand of the government decision to ban consumption of liquor at public place and got the youngster unloaded the beer bottles back in the cartoons. The tourist police, however, warned the group that no leniency would be shown to them if they leave the beach littered or if any member of the group was found smoking at the public place.
PSI Rane said that pending the government notification, which is expected to come any moment, the tourist police have been given a clear brief to stop consumption of liquor or beer at public places along the beach belt. “During our patrolling along the beach belt from Cavelossim to Majorda, we make the people and the picnickers aware of the government’s ban on public consumption of liquor. If anyone does not pay heed to the pleas not to consume beer or liquor at public places, it has been decided to get them to the police station and book them under section 34 of the Police Act,” Rane added.
The PSI said that consumption of liquor will be permitted only in the beach shacks and other joints authorised by the Excise department and other authorities.
Incidentally, Betalbatim Sarpanch Constancio Miranda said that though the three beaches at Betalbatim had played host to picnickers and other visitors, reports say that liquor consumption was almost zero this time round. “We have also erected boards at the entry point to the beaches making the public aware that drinking of liquor is not allowed on the beach. I think our plea and the patrolling of the beach belt has helped to cap on liquor consumption at the Betalbatim beach belt,” the sarpanch added.
