Panaji: The Goa government is considering a ban on the sale of glass liquor bottles near beaches, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the Assembly on Wednesday, following concerns over tourist injuries caused by broken glass along the coastline.
He was responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who complained that the tourists have been getting bodily injuries due to broken glass bottles on the beaches.
The chief minister said that the state government is contemplating the possibility of banning sale of glass liquor bottles through the wine stores located near the beaches and replacing it with the canes.
Speaking on the issue on the floor of the House, State Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said that the existing law has a provision to impose fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 on those littering on the beaches. He said that the littering has been classified as nuisance under the current law.
“The issue is that the people who buy from wine store are not supposed to dink in public places. They feel that Kucch Bhi Kar Sakte hai,and then violate the law,” he said.
Khaunte said that the issue of broken glasses on the seashore and also nuisance was discussed extensively with the chief minister recently.
He said that the state Department of Environment is in process of notifying a scheme which will make it mandatory for the wine stores to charge “deposit fee” from the customer which would be refunded to him, once he returns the bottle. “This scheme would be notified and implemented soon,” he said.
