Goa's beaches will be patrolled till midnight by a special police division when the tourism season begins in September this year, a minister said here today.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told reporters that the India Reserve Batallion (IRB), which has been guarding Goa's beaches in the absence of a tourist police, would now maintain vigil till midnight to curb crimes.
In the last tourist season, IRB personnel were stationed at beaches until 9 P.M.
It has also been decided that the number of IRB personnel would be increased from the present 160 to 235 for the purpose of guarding the 105km-long shoreline, he said.
The state tourism ministry has also decided to give three-year licences for shacks on beaches as against the earlier policy of permits valid only for a year, he said.
Tourism ministry officials will begin consultations with shack owners from August 1 about the new policy, which will be announced on August 15, he said.
One of the new proposals for shack owners would be that they have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments, although that would not be mandatory, he said.
The state-run Goa Tourism Development Corporation has, meanwhile, decided to set up and operate a "model shack" at Baga from the forthcoming tourist season.
