Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant has launched a Beach Vigil App on June 3 which will enable people to report violations like drinking/cooking on the beach, unattended litter, illegal hawking, touting for services like messages, tattoos ads illegal services, along the state’s beaches directly to the tourism department.
Reporting app to complain and seek redressal
This is unique reporting app that will help concerned well meaning citizens to complain and seek redressal. The aware citizenry can bring things to our notice so that the service delivery can be fined tuned accordingly, said director of tourism, Nikhil Desai.
Violations to be recorded in the beach
Other violations that can be reported like deck bed extension, garbage, beach weddings or events, illegal structures, sound pollution, vehicles on beach etc.
In 2019, Goa Legislative Assembly passed amendments to the Goa Tourist Places Act banning alcohol consumption in the tourist places including drinking in the open, cooking in the open, littering and breaking glass bottles. Violating the rule can invite fine of Rs 2000, and if violated in a group can invite a fine of Rs 10,000.
Complaints reported will be monitored
Violations which will be reported through the app will be actively monitored by the tourism department who will direct its agencies including the beach cleaning agency, the lifeguarding agency, its own tourism wardens or the Goa police to act on the complaints received.
