Foreigners doing business at Arambol beach.
Photo Credits: Nivrutti Shirodkar
PERNEM
Four Russians and an Indian were booked by Pernem police on charges of illegally conducting hawking activities and selling their wares at Arambol beach.
Offences were booked against Victor Glukhov, Kirill Zavialov, Alexey Nogichev and Alexey Evstifer, all from Russia, and Tarun Goyal from Tamil Nadu under Section 188 r/w 34 IPC on charges of engaging in illegal hawking and selling of consumer goods at Arambol Beach without obtaining any permission from authorities.
The issue of tourists illegally conducting hawking activities was raised by Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, who visited Arambol beach to stake stock of the situation. He posed as a customer and met tourists setting up makeshift markets at Arambol beach between 5 pm and 7.30 pm.
Speaking to reporters at the beach, Arolkar said: “We welcome foreign tourists to Mandrem’s coastal areas. However, foreign tourists should come here as tourists and should not indulge in illegal business. If tourists start doing business, what will happen to the locals and where should they go?”
“Every year, foreign tourists visit Harmal beach but instead of enjoying Goa, they do business on a large scale. If locals sell items on the beach, police takes action against them and so, why should there not be any action against these foreign tourists who are posing a threat to local businesses,” asked Arolkar.
“Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has also supported me in this matter and has already warned that no illegal activities should be carried on the beaches.”
Arolkar later directed the police to take action against these makeshift markets and police responded by shutting down the business activity on the beach.
Despite the police action, several foreign tourists continued doing business at Arambol beach on Friday. A police team went to the site and shut down the market. A short while later, officials from the tourism department went to the site and warned shack operators not to place beds close to the sea. Acting on the instructions, the operators quickly removed the wooden tables and beach beds.
