Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Goa government is actively considering a ban on the sale of liquor in glass bottles along the state’s coastal belt, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the House.
The move is being explored to curb rising cases of tourist injuries caused by broken glass waste on beaches.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte flagged the issue as “serious” and called for stricter discipline among tourists, stressing that public drinking is being treated as a nuisance.
He said the deposit refund system will be introduced to encourage proper disposal of bottles.
Fines ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 will be imposed under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 2001 and the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001.
MLA Venzy Viegas, meanwhile, slammed the government for ignoring the nuisance for the past ten years, saying tourists have been openly carrying alcohol bottles to beaches without action. “Why is the government silent?” he asked.
He demanded that the Tourism Department update its website with clear rules about the ban and launch roadshows and awareness drives across the state.
MLA Michael Lobo also raised the issue of tourist injuries due to broken glass on beaches and urged a ban on glass and plastic containers.
He called for police deployment to monitor the situation, but the Chief Minister clarified that awareness and civic engagement are more effective than constant policing.
“The aim is not to harass tourists, but to make them aware,” Sawant said.
Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao echoed the call for higher penalties to address recurring nuisances along Goa’s beach belt.
Meanwhile, Minister Khaunte said the government has expanded beach maintenance efforts under a new contract covering 50 beaches and 102 dead-end areas, with 525 workers deployed round the clock.
He added that Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are welcome to join the mission.
