PANAJI
Amid visible differences between the Tourism Department and Goa Police over tout menace, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday directed the Director General of Police Jaspal Singh to clamp down on all kinds of illegal businesses in the coastal belt.
In a media statement at Vasco, CM admitted that people across the country and world have been descending on Goa’s coast for operating various businesses and therefore, it is paramount to keep a strict vigil on such activities.
“People have been coming to Goa from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and different countries to conduct business in coastal areas. I have instructed the DGP to crack down on all types of illegalities including beggars and touts,” he said.
The assurance comes two days after Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte sought CM’s intervention into the growing menace along the Calangute beach belt. The tourism department and the police have come at loggerheads after the minister pointed out Calangute police’s ineffectiveness against illegal touts.
In response to his allegation, Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan claimed that they have been actively clamping down on the nuisance-making touts and hawkers with 100 cases booked in Calangute alone within three months of this year and 400 last calendar year. The Calangute police have booked over 20 cases under the Tourism Trade Act this week.
Amid the growing tension, Khaunte held a meeting with SP North and Tourism Director Suneel Anchipaka on Thursday seeking action against the touts and hawkers.
Khaunte once again took a dig at the police claiming that the latter cannot do away with their responsibilities in controlling such menace and reiterated that the role of the tourism department is limited in such cases.
“When some tout acts like a pimp encouraging prostitution, the inquiry should be done about the entire racket. Police should tell what investigation is done by them,” Khaunte said.
