Prohibition dampens the merry
spirit for Belagavi weekenders
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
While fortunes of politicians were sealed in the ballot box on Saturday, the Goa Assembly elections brought in dull moments for passionate weekend tourists from Belagavi and north Karnataka region.
With the prohibition imposed by Goan authorities on sale of liquor, many enthusiastic weekend visitors to Goa abandoned their plans to visit the coastal State this weekend. This is because, a dry weekend in Goa is quite worthless for them.
The number of weekend enthusiasts from the region who have made Goa a regular weekend destination has been on the increase every year.
Easy road accessibility, golden beaches and free flowing booze available at comparatively cheaper rate has attracted a large number of people from Belagavi region, who have made Goa their regular weekend destination.
In fact, “Govva Hoggona” (let's go to Goa) has become a common catch phrase for the weekend enthusiasts here and scores of vehicles from north Karnataka region make frequent trips to Goa. Besides the cheaper alcohol, an added bonus in Goa is the cheaper petrol rates.
“Indeed, Goa is the best weekend destination for us. If it’s only for partying, we go to Surla that offers us the desired food and drink, but for a complete weekend, we prefer visiting the north Goa beach belt, which is just about two-and-half hours from Belagavi,” Nitin (name changed) told The Goan.
Many like him were disappointed due to the liquor ban imposed by authorities on the eve of Goa Assembly elections.
“We visit Goa or at least Surla almost every weekend, but there is no point visiting Goa this weekend as Govva is literally dry,” another weekend enthusiast lamented.
Many are desperately waiting for the election process to be completed so that they could spend their weekend in Goa and make merry.
