Panaji: Calling out the lethargy shown by Goa police in cracking down on touts and agents peddling prohibited services, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Friday said that Goa police need to explain why no action is being taken against touts.Khaunte said that a drive along the North Goa coastal belt will be started to evict touts.“The police have intelligence on where the touts are coming from, whether they have done their tenant verification. The local PI has to answer how these touts are coming and why they are coming when the local MLA, the tourism minister and the chief minister are asking for action,” said Khaunte. “Nipping it in the bud is important.”Khaunte said that each govt department has to play their role in cleaning up the coastline.During an interaction at Calangute, locals asked govt about the steps to stop prostitution, selling of drugs and other unsavoury services. Many hoteliers, restaurateurs and hospitality sector players expressed concern about the touts and the lawlessness along the beach.“Catching one or two touts is not going to solve the problem,” said Khaunte. The tourism minister said that the department wants to find solutions to the concerns raised by the locals.Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that a collective effort is required to address the issues plaguing the beach belt of Candolim-Calangute-Baga.“The public has been demanding that the bouncers and touts in front of spas, dance bars, night clubs be finished. Don’t fine them, just put them in custody. We are going to monitor this every day. It has to be over,” said Lobo.Earlier this month, Khaunte said that cracking down on touts remains the department’s priority. Khaunte said that he has been continuously discussing this issue with the chief minister but Goa police do not treat the issue with the seriousness that it deserves.Khaunte said that Goa police should use all legal provisions to jail offenders or send them back to their respective states.
