Panaji: Goa Police have begun extensive drive to penalize the tourists on the beaches, who roam on the seashore, without putting on their masks thereby violating the COVID-19 prevention Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
The police stations at Pernem, Anjuna and Calangute, which covers entire North Goa beach belt, have initiated drives to penalize the tourists, who are seen without mask, a senior official said.
Pernem police inspector Jivba Dalvi said that till date in the year 2021, Pernem police station that covers beaches like Arambol, Morjim and others in extreme North Goa has filed 957 people collecting a fine of Rs 1.86 lakhs.
He said that his police station had booked 2,600 people without mask in the year 2020 collecting fine of Rs 3.29 lakh.
On the other hand, Calangute police station has booked 2,000 tourists and locals in last three months for not wearing masks collecting a fine of Rs four lakhs.
A senior police official said that the Calangute Police has also made announcements at the Beaches creating awareness amongst the tourists about social distancing and wearing masks.
The state is witnessing huge crowd on its shoreline due to extended long weekends.
