With the tourist season set to commence in October it seems the tourism department’s proposal for the creation of a dedicated police force for better surveillance of beaches and other attractions may not fructify soon. Though the proposal was put forth to the Goa Tourism Board on two occasions and the government was to call for a joint meeting with senior police personnel, no due seriousness was shown subsequently.
The tourism department can not act against illegalities in the beach belt without police support, removing a few deck chairs and small encroachments on the beach is just not enough, legal action has to be taken against the offenders which only the law enforcement agencies are empowered to do. Police presence is required not to just keep beggars and vendors at bay but also to penalize shack owners who occupy more beach space than allotted to them.
The government should be seized of the matter and take proactive action to set up a tourist police grid as tourism is one of the biggest revenue engines of the state economy. Delaying matters could prove counterproductive.
