MARGAO
Strays, as well as illegal migrant hawkers, seem to have all come to stay at the iconic world-famous Colva beach.
Tourists and visitors visiting the beach on Sunday were all greeted and welcomed by stray cattle and dogs right at the entrance.
Migrant hawkers too were found in droves on the beach, illegally carrying out business activities, in violation of the rules in force, indicating that the authorities, including the men-in-uniform and the Animal Husbandry department, could not have their way in putting things in order at the world-famous beach.
When newly-elected Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas had descended on the Colva beach to gather first-hand information on the state of affairs, he was greeted by stray cattle on the beach and had come across tourists involved in drinking in the open.
The situation, however, seems to have not changed for the better since then. When the locals were expecting the Tourism officials to rope in the Animal Husbandry department and NGOs involved in animal care to impound the cattle, the situation remains unchanged.
In fact, stray cattle and stray dogs seem to have made the iconic beach their second home. The men-in-uniform also seem clueless in cracking a whip against the illegal migrant hawkers swarming on the Colva beach.
A local resident wondered how can the migrant hawkers move freely on the beach without coming under the scanner of the law enforcement agencies. “We had heard outgoing Tourism Minister, Manohar Ajgaonkar, issuing warnings to hawkers on the beachside to stop the activity or face the whip. The warning, however, had never resulted in action against the hawkers, who went about their business activity without any fear”, the resident added.
He hoped the new Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte will study the situation and come out with a plan to put things in order at the iconic beach, as the world-famous beach is bracing up to host thousands, if not lakhs, of domestic visitors these summer months.
