MARGAO
As the world famous Colva beach is literally invaded by hordes of migrant vendors, the Tourism department has passed the buck on the Goa Police to rein in on the illegal activities on the beach belt.
The Colva police, however, say that whatever staff they have at their disposal has been deployed at the beach stretch at Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim, Benaulim and Lovers Beach.
After the Colva village Sarpanch Johnson Coelho complained to the Tourism department over the illegal activities by hawkers, photographers and tattoo artists on the Colva beach, Tourism Assistant Director Rodlin J Mascarenhas has dashed off a letter to the Colva police station in-charge, to deploy IRB police personnel (both male and female personnel) to keep the vendors at bay.
In fact, the Assistant Tourism Director has requested the Colva police to maintain a strict vigil on the illegalities taking place on the beach stretch coming within the jurisdiction of the Colva police station.
Former Sarpanch Antonio Fernandes informed that hordes of migrant vendors have descended on the Colva beach, with offers to draw tattoos and sell handicrafts. The complaint lodged by the Colva panchayat also spoke about photographers making a huge presence on the beach with a view click photographs of the visitors for a price.
“Despite the complaint lodged by the village, no action has been forthcoming from the Colva police or the IRB. We haven’t seen any action coming from the cops to stop the migrant hawkers and vendors from making hay on the beach,” he added.
Indeed, the men-in-uniform are nowhere to be seen on the Colva beach, and one may come across a small pose of policemen manning the booths.
The Colva police, however, said they will forward the request of the Tourism department to deploy IRB personnel on the beach belt. “We have already deployed the IRB personnel at the booths at the beach belt. We will ask our superiors to send additional personnel at the beach belt,” remarked a senior police officer.
What’s interesting to note is that every time, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar is questioned over the presence of migrant vendors on the beach, he warns of stern action against illegal hawking and vending on the beach, but the ground reality haven’t change for the better till date.
