MARGAO
Has the Tourism Department’s latest circular, warning a whip against open drinking and vending on the beach belt, changed the ground reality?
Welcome to the world-famous Colva beach, visited by thousands of visitors every day, where migrant vendors continue to make merry, selling handicraft items on the beach to the visitors, unmindful of the Tourism Department’s circular.
Blame it on manpower shortage at the Colva police station or simply lack of will to crack down on the illegal vending, illegal migrant vendors were found having a field day a the Colva beach on Friday.
The vendors were moving in groups on the beach as if there was no circular issued by the Tourism Department and their activity is legalised by the government.
When The Goan called up the Colva police to figure out the reasons for not implementing the Tourism Department’s circular on the illegal migrant vendors on Colva beach, a police officer said beat police drafted for the beach have been issued strict instructions to crack down on the vendors.
The officer, however, pointed out that patrolling will be effective on the beach if a dedicated tourist police force is deployed to clamp down on the illegalities. “Earlier, the Tourist police used to conduct round-the-clock patrolling on the beach. But, after the tourist police force was withdrawn, the Colva police had to use its regular force for beach patrolling,” the officer said.
Saying the police are carrying out the beach patrolling with the available manpower, the police officer, however, said the illegal vendors play hide and seek with the men-in-uniform, running for cover when the police make their presence felt on the beach and resurfacing after the personnel return back to the police station.
Sources in the know said the Colva police need dedicated staff to rein in the illegal vendors, reminding the Colva police station jurisdiction extends to the entire Salcete belt, right from Cavelossim to Majorda.
Residents, however, pointed out that there seemed no will on the part of the Tourism Department or the law enforcing agencies in cracking a whip against the illegal vendors. “We can spot the illegal vendors moving on the beach, but the men-in-uniform are not to be seen around to check the illegal vending,” remarked a resident.
The world-famous Colva beach plays host to hordes of illegal migrants around the year, doing the business of selling handicraft items, painting tattoos, etc as visitors throng the beach 24x7.
