MARGAO: Reacting to the recent incidents of drowning reported in the State in places like abandoned quarries, waterfalls etc, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday stated that the department will issue a circular appealing tourists to check the safety before venturing into dangerous spots to swim after viewing videos posted by social media influencers.
Responding to queries from media persons, Khaunte revealed that the state tourism department plans to issue a circular advising individuals to verify the safety of such locations before visiting them.
“Sometimes, an Instagram influencer will post a video about an abandoned water-filled quarry. People, after seeing these videos, may visit the site and jump into the water without understanding the risks, which can result in drowning,” the minister explained.
He noted that the state government has limited ability to prevent such incidents since these quarries are often located deep within forests, making it hard to anticipate that someone might attempt to swim in them.
Khaunte emphasized that his department will issue a notice and launch an awareness campaign to urge both tourists and locals to ensure a location’s safety before exploring potentially dangerous spots.
The minister pointed out that despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s warnings against swimming in unsafe waters, drowning incidents continue to occur in the state.
It may be recalled that both the North and South Goa District Collectors had previously issued directives banning swimming in waterfalls, abandoned quarries, and rivers, among other water bodies.
The Collectors had warned that non-compliance with the directive would constitute a violation of Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
The administration cited numerous drowning incidents in waterfalls, quarries, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies as the rationale for the ban, stating that swimming in these areas poses significant risks.
The circular emphasized the need for urgent measures to prevent any danger to human life or public safety.
The swimming ban in these water bodies will remain effective until further notice, according to the directive.