the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that “altoo-faltoo” tourists, who has no respect for the local culture, are not welcomed in Goa, Tourism Minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar on Saturday send a strong message that nuisance of any sort will not be tolerated along the beach belt by the government.
Mulling a beggar-free, hawker-free, and liquor drinking-free beaches, Tourism Minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar on Saturday said the new beach cleaning contractor is duty bound to lift away any waste on the beach within two hours if any citizens upload the waste and litter on the App.
He said the beach cleaning contractor from Karnataka will be taken to task if he does not start the work by October and take steps to keep the beaches clean as per the contract.
He said Goa is looking for good and quality tourists who will help tourism grow and made a fervent plea to the stakeholders including the shack owners to take care of the tourists visiting the State.
On the nuisance posed to tourists by the beggars, hawkers and liquor consumption by tourists on the beaches, the Tourism Minister said he would soon call a meeting with the concerned authorities, including the district police chiefs to enforce the provisions against the violators. “Fines will be imposed on open drinking on the beaches as well as on groups of tourists cooking food along the roadside,” he warned.
Babu, however, solicited the support and cooperation of the tourism stakeholders as well as the common man to stop the nuisance on the beaches.
On beach infrastructure such as toilets and changing rooms, Babu said many a proposal was stuck up for want of the NOCs from the CRZ. “The Tourism department has received central funds to install changing rooms and toilets on the beach belt. These will soon become a reality in Colva and Benaulim as the department has received the NOCs,” he added.
