Panjim: There appears to be confusion between government departments as to what the rules are on allowing or not allowing people to visit the beach. However, until clarity on that issue is arrived upon, there have been concerns raised about the lack of social distancing at the beach.
On one hand, as per the government, their orders for keeping the beaches shut for all its visitors is blatantly defied by the people including foreign nationals. Drishti marine has confirmed that people do come for sunbathing and walk, of whom foreign nationals are mostly found at Arambol and Palolem beaches. However, on the other hand, according to Goa Police, beaches are open between 7 am and 7 pm with social distancing.
“Amidst a global pandemic and lockdown in India, Drishti Lifeguards that is a part of Goa’s essential services, continues to be on duty in north and south Goa. Red flags have been put up at all the beaches indicating that the beaches are closed for swimming. However on some beaches like Caranzalem, Colva, Baga, Calangute, Arambol quite a few people turn up through the day. The crowds are larger during the evening,” said Drishti Marine, Executive Director Ravi Shankar to Herald.
Asked about the type of crowd on the beaches, he claimed that majority of them consist of locals. “It’s mostly the locals who come to the beach for a stroll generally to get some respite from the heat. In Baga, some elderly residents come for a sea bath, which is an annual ritual among them,” he said adding, “A few foreigners are witnessed along the Arambol belt and Palolem stretch. The foreigners are few and scattered along the beach stretch. We notice that they generally take a stroll and sunbath.”
The lifeguards, who continue to man the beaches, approach the police seeking help to move the crowds out. Shankar said they get immediate help from the police.
However, it seems that people have not been taking the directions seriously as the scene continues. On being asked if the agency has been officially complaining about the violation of the lockdown orders, the senior official said, “The core responsibility of lifeguards is to maintain the safety of people. That’s the focus. It would not be wise for us to shift attention from safety of people, to implementation of lockdown rules.”
Being first responders to any emergency situations on the beach, the lifeguards continue to monitor and patrol the beach stretches besides carrying out rescues and medical interventions among other incidents. “As is the process, Drishti sends reports from the coast to the Tourism Department on a regular basis. As a lifeguard service, we report incidents, medical interventions and happenings at the beach stretch,” he added.
Tourism Director Menino D'Souza said,” Through Drishti, we advise and enforce it (lockdown orders) but at the same time we have to use police force if they don't listen”.
Sources in the government told Herald that off late the crowd has been increasing due to the May heat.
Herald spoke to a few senior officials of the Goa Police, who on condition of anonymity said, they have been patrolling the beaches and moving the crowd away, only if they find social distancing norms are being violated. “There is no ban on the beaches as long as people maintain social distance,” an officer said.
“We are not encouraging (visits to the beaches) but when lockdown 3.0 started, we heard from many people including elderly citizens that they need to go out for walks. It was getting difficult to remain behind closed doors constantly… We don’t allow people anywhere outside post 7pm and we often announce that social distance be maintained…” the officer said.
Three days ago, theChief Minister had asked people, who are not residents of Goa, to not come to the State for holidays as ‘beaches continue to be closed for access in the wake of the pandemic.’