PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday carried out an inspection at the Calangute beach and interacted with several stakeholders. Sawant said that more police stations will be opened along Goa's coastal belt and additional coastal police and traffic police will be deployed to ensure a safer environment for locals and tourists.
Measures will be put in place before the next tourist season begins, said the CM.
"We will give additional police stations on the coastal belt whether it is Calangute, Anjuna or Pernem. We are also preparing to give additional coastal police and traffic police. We will ensure that not a single crime occurs along the coast," Sawant said.
He said a plan for timely response is also being prepared, while the crackdown on touts, hawkers, illegal massage parlours will be intensified.
"We are taking maximum action against touts, hawkers. We are also in the process of taking action against private security personnel being used outside bars and clubs. The process of arrests is on. We are still thinking about how better we can act against them," Sawant said.
Training will also be imparted to police personnel working along the coast to make them more tourist friendly, he said.
The chief minister also said that maximum drug seizures have taken place during his tenure.
"Just because drugs are seized does not mean more drugs are being sold. It means that there is a better crackdown."
Sawant said that though lifeguards are doing a good job, more awareness needs to be created among tourists about safety while venturing into the waters.
"I left my security behind and took a ride with a motorcycle pilot to monitor a couple of things like cleanliness. I went with a motorcycle pilot to observe how traffic police operate, where the jams are occurring, and how lanes are occupied for illegal activities. On the beach, along with lifeguards, police are deployed there 24X7. No doubt we still require additional police force, which we will deploy by the next tourist season," Sawant said.
