Must promote tourism with clean and safe beaches: Min

Panaji: As the 75-day long mega national cleanliness drive ends on September 17, which is celebrated as International Coastal Clean-up Day, a cleanliness drive will be held at various beaches of the state.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has appealed to citizens to join the campaign.
“Goa government along with the ministry of environment will hold the drive at five selected beaches, including other beaches that were selected in consultation with the chief minister,” said Khaunte.
Five beaches – Miramar, Baina, Bogmalo, Velsao and Colva - figured in the list of 75 beaches that were selected from across the country’s coastline for the 75-day long cleanliness campaign ‘Swachch Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ which commenced on July 3.
The drive, Khaunte said, is being taken up to give a message to the people to keep beaches clean.
“The programme will be held from 8am to 10am, and we want all to join us. We are working towards a common cause of keeping beaches clean and secure as we promote tourism,” he said.
The people, he said, should join the drive at the beach closest to them. “At the end of the day, everybody is an ambassador of tourism,” he said.
There have been complaints of beaches left unclean with visitors throwing waste anywhere, despite dustbins being placed at all locations.