Goa to deploy drones to curb illegal activities on beaches

Panaji, Jun 8 (PTI) The tourism department in Goa will introduce surveillance drones to track down illegalities and maintain continuous monitoring of beaches in the coastal state, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday.

He said drones would be introduced as an arm of beach surveillance.

Monitoring through drones would be done to check garbage strewn on beaches, encroachment, touting activity and other illegalities, he said.

Khaunte was talking to media persons after chairing a meeting of representatives from beach shack associations from across the state. He said it has been decided to extend the Beach Shack policy, which is due to expire in 2026, by another year.

Beach shacks that were supposed to dismantle their temporary structures by

the end of May have been permitted to continue operations up to June 10, depending on the weather, he said.

Owners have been asked to submit their applications for renewal of their shacks before August 15 so that licences can be granted by September 1, much before the international tourist season starts, added the minister. PTI RPS NR