Multiple cases of foot injuries due to broken glass bottles were reported in the Calangute-Candolim beach belt after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Tourists dumped empty alcohol bottles on the beaches leading to even children sustaining cuts due to the exposed glass shards. It must be said that empty bottles will not break by themselves if they are thrown on the soft beach sand.
Over a year after the introduction of a law to curb nuisance in public places, the tourism department has begun installing signboards at all beaches warning of the dos and don’ts. Any visitor found drinking on beaches will be slapped with a fine of Rs 2,000 while a group will have to cough up Rs 10,000.
It must be said that there are rules prohibiting drinking on the beaches. However implementation of the rules by penalizing the violators is equally important. Hence the introduction of the proposed dedicated beach police-force assumes much significance.
It is pertinent to note that the Goa government spends around Rs 10 crore each year on beach cleaning. Even if the beaches are cleaned immediately, there could be pieces of broken glass buried in the sand which could surface after some time posing danger to the visitor. Hence, prevention is better than cure.
