No beach parties from Dec 23 to Jan 5: govt

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-12-21
PANAJI- After dithering over the issue of whether to allow the beach parties or not, the state government on Saturday finally decided to ban the beach parties on the Goa’s coastline during the festive season of Christmas and New Year in view of heightened terror threat perception.
Talking to the reporters after a meeting with the top state and police officials, the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, said the government has taken into consideration all the aspects and taken the decision to protect the Goans and the tourists from any eventuality. He said that an appropriate order on the government decision would be issued on Monday and the situation would be reviewed periodically.
The government has now decided not to allow beach parties from December 23 to January 5. The latest government decision comes in the wake of police reports that open-air parties were easy target. The police also want to curb sale of drugs and other illegalities allegedly associated with such parties.
The government also decided to cancel leave of all magisterial staff and of the police personnel in the view of the emergent situation, besides canceling leave of all the staff needed for maintaining law and order and security.
The Chief Minister on Saturday held a high-level meeting in the presence of the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik to review the security arrangement in the state and the decision was in view of report from the police that it would not be possible to provide foolproof security on the beaches.
The Home Minister, however, said that all other traditional festivities and celebrations like midnight mass and dances would continue in the state. “There is no ban on the functions in the hotel and closed areas,” he added. He further said the security has been tightened all along the state and guests need not worry about the safety.
Earlier this week, the Congress legislature party at its meeting had initially had urged the government not to compromise on the safety and take preventive measures to thwart any eventuality. It had stopped just short of recommending the ban.