The Hindu : National : Goa government to clean up coastline

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Goa government to clean up coastline

Prakash Kamat

The operations of beach shacks being put under the scanner

Special excise permits policy to be reviewed
Demolition of illegal structures on the agenda

PANAJI: In the wake of the alleged drugging and murder of a British teenager, the Goa government has undertaken a clean-up drive on its coastline.

Goa Chief Secretary told The Hindu on Saturday that the State would strictly implement the rule that all the liquor outlets, including restaurants and beach shacks, cannot remain open beyond midnight. A special action plan to prevent rave parties and other such activities, which aid and abet drug peddling and consumption, was also being considered.

Promoted in the name of night-life for tourists, the State Excise Department has been liberal in allowing a special category of ‘high-fee liquor permits’ which allow the restaurants and shacks to remain open till 5 a.m. These special excise permits have been availed by shacks in north Goa’s coastal belt by paying a seasonal fee of Rs.12000, according to Excise Commissioner P.S. Reddy.

He said it was for the government to decide on the policy issue.

The Scarlette case has given credence to the complaints in the coastal villages that these outlets attract nefarious activities, including drug abuse. The special excise permits policy would be reviewed, the Chief Secretary said.

Disconnection of electricity and water to illegal shacks, demolition of illegal structures, and clearing the beach fronts of illegal bed-decks were on the agenda of the Tourism Department, a recent State government affidavit before the High Court said.

The government was now putting under the scanner the operations of beach shacks allegedly peddling narcotic drugs.

In the Scarlette case, a couple of barmen from the shacks have been arrested.

The Tourism Department identified illegal shacks and other encroachments operating as dens of anti-social activities.

A meeting of Tourism Department officials, police and other agencies under Tourism Minister Micky Pacheco has worked out a blue-print for crackdown.

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