Won’t allow tourists to cook by roadside, on beaches in Goa: Chief minister Pramod Sawant

Panaji: To keep Goa clean and green, govt has decided to act tough against tourists who cook food and eat food along the roadside and on beaches. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday that no tourists will be allowed to enter the state with cooking cylinders and stoves.
“Police will confiscate the cooking gas cylinders and stoves from tourists at the state borders and they won’t be returned even if they pay fines,” Sawant said.
There was a long-standing demand from MLAs and tourism stakeholders to act against such tourists.
“We will seize the cooking stoves and cylinders of those tourists coming to Goa with such things and stop cooking food on beaches and by roadsides. They will not get these items even if they pay fines.”
Sawant said that tourists coming to Goa should remain alert and should not come to Goa with cylinders and stoves.
“If a tourist is found cooking by the roadside and eating, police will take the tourist to the police station. If a tourist bus is stopped along the roadside and starts cooking, then the bus will be seized. They can rent a hall and eat food,” the CM said.
“We will not allow littering along the roadside. In case a bus is found, then the bus owner will be penalised and the vehicle will be taken to the police station. We want to keep the state clean and green, so we have to follow the rules. I have directed police to take strict action against violators,” Sawant said.
He said that in case anyone is found begging on the beaches, they will be taken to the police station and sent outside the state. “We will arrest those people involved in begging and giving massages on beaches. We will not allow them to go with a fine, but they will remain in jail. We will also act against touts,” the CM said.