Goa Tourism Dept bans driving vehicles on beaches, drinking in the open; violators to pay fine of ₹50,000

way2barak, Nov.1: Goa tourism director Nikhil Desai in an order issued on Monday has declared several activities, including cooking and drinking in the open, begging and illegal hawking, and touting in tourist places, driving vehicles on the beach, etc., as “nuisance,” and placed a fine of up to ₹50,000 for such violations.

Among the banned activities, the order stated are the “process of cooking food in open spaces and littering, consumption of liquor in open spaces and breaking of glass bottles, etc”. Besides cooking, eating and drinking, the order also bans a wide range of illegal hawking, touting and other activities that could “impede the free movement of tourists/cause obstructions or compel the tourists to purchase items/ goods/ services”.

Any person, company, association or firm or any other body who fails to comply with this order or obstructs any person acting on the direction of this order shall be punishable with a fine of ₹5,000, which may extend up to ₹50,000, or shall be liable for action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.