PANJIM, FEB 11
While the State Government does not seem to be doing anything much for the security of tourists visiting beaches -- the Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday offered a couple of suggestions to the government on protection of tourists, especially women tourists and beach management.
Pointing out that it is in the interest of Goa to maintain discipline at beaches and provide security to domestic as well as foreign tourists enjoying at beaches -- a Division Bench headed by Justice Naresh H Patil suggested the government should set-up ‘mahila chowkis’ at the beaches to rule out any kind of mischief against women tourists.
Questioning Advocate General Subodh Kantak about security provided at beaches, Justice Patil said, there has to be a separate security for tourists visiting beaches and this is important as “Goa is an international tourists spot.”
Kantak told the Court that cleanliness is maintained at the beaches while work of providing life guards for beach patrolling has been out-sourced to a private agency. The agency was appointed following spate of drowning deaths.
As regards to ensuring security of tourists enjoying themselves at beaches, he said, he would take instructions from the government as to what could be done.
Saying that there has to be strong system in place to maintain discipline and law and order at beaches, Justice Patil said, tourists whether it is domestic or foreign, should be able to enjoy without any “fear.”
To this, Kantak responded saying he would take instructions from the government and inform the Court accordingly.
Goa though have separate cell called “tourists police” they have been hardly instrumental in giving any solace to tourists.
Moreover, there have been allegations that they collect haftas to turn blind eye towards any kind of irregularities at beaches.
They also prefer to ignore vendors pestering tourists to buy their goodies.