Goa: Within a month, use app to report illegalities on beaches

PANAJI: Nuisance at beaches, be it vendors who harass tourists or people drinking, go unchecked despite the presence of cops and India Reserve Battalion (IRB). To keep a check on such illegalities the tourism department has decided to introduce an app.
A mobile app will be launched within a month to facilitate people to complain about any illegality on any beach, tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar told reporters on Tuesday.
“Even breaches by beach operators can be reported through the app,” he said.
Some shack operators, he said, put deck beds in excess number and line them close to the water. “People can also report them through the app,” he said.
A beach shack allottee is permitted to install 10 pairs of deck beds, but many exceed the legal number.
The two biggest problems faced by the tourism department are vendors selling goods, food items and beverages on beaches, and people drinking alcohol on beaches. Drinking on beaches also leads to drownings when visitors get into the water, especially, after sunset.
The tourism minister said they don’t want vendors troubling visitors. Once the app is introduced, it will be easier to act against illegal operators.
Similarly, he said, the app can also be used to bring littering to the notice of the department. He added that the existing beach cleaning operator—Karnataka Commercial and Industrial Corporation Pvt Ltd—is doing a fine job of maintaining cleanliness.
Tourism director Menino D’Souza said the app is being prepared through Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL), and will help put onus on beach shack operators who at times look the other way, when illegalities happen in front of them.
D’Souza said they will take immediate action after a complaint is received and if the nature of the offence falls under the domain of the police, it will be forwarded to them for action.
After the legislation banning drinking on beaches was introduced last year, police have been vested with powers to book people violating the law.
The two biggest problems faced by the tourism department are vendors selling goods, food items and beverages on beaches, and people drinking alcohol on beaches. Drinking on beaches also leads to drownings