Domestic tourists drink, cook, litter in open spaces

COLVA: In 2017, the nuisance of domestic tourists cooking by the roadside and in open spaces had been raised in the legislative assembly after the media had highlighted the issue. But, a visit to Colva beach on January 1, revealed that Indian tourists continue to cook, eat, drink and litter the area in the Children’s Park, which is right behind the tourist police booth and opposite Colva residency.

Though CM Manohar Parrikar had assured the House that cooking in open spaces and by the roadside would not be allowed and the government announced that it would form special squads to check on tourists who cook on the roadside and eat there itself, thereby littering the place. A further announcement was made of setting up camping sites for tourists with facilities for cooking and for ablutions during their trip in the state.

More than an year has passed but nothing concrete has happened to fulfil the assurance in the assembly. When tourism director Menino D’Souza was asked about it, he said, “Lots of things are pending and I’m on leave. I’ve have seen it myself and it is a big nuisance, but it has to be tackled very sensitively because of other states.”

As usual, hordes of domestic tourists have descended on Goa to ring in the New Year. They have travelled in buses, tempo travellers and jeeps packed with the utensils, gas cylinders, kerosene stoves and provisions. After bringing in the New Year, they have set up their kitchens in the open space and were seen cooking, eating, drinking and discarding their waste right at the site or in the Colva creek without any inhibitions and fear of the tourist police.

When tourist police on duty was questioned about it, without realising he was talking to a reporter, he said, “The top police brass in South Goa have instructed us not to disturb them and the domestic tourists were drinking outside our booth, against the direction of the DGP to penalise such tourists from buying liquor at wholesale outlets and drinking on the beach.”

When pointed out that the tourists were cooking in the open, the police asked whether the TOI reporter owned a restaurant and hence was bothered about it. Only when the cop realised he was talking to a reporter, he swung into action and went around to stop the tourists from cooking. But, the tourists did not pay heed to his directives.

When TOI spoke to the tourists, they said they had driven from neighbouring states just for two days, the cost of lodging and provisions is expensive in Goa, liquor is cheap. “So we enjoy and go back. We have been doing this for years,” they said.

The beach from Colva to Benaulim was littered with alcohol bottles, beer cans and plastic foods packs. Dhristi personnel cleaned Colva and part of of the main Benaulim beach by 10.30am.