PANJIM, March 20 -- The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Department of Tourism to crack down on illegal constructions and businesses operating from such premises on beaches across the State.

The Court has asked the Department of Tourism to initiate stringent action against such constructions and further to keep a strict vigil to ensure that such illegal constructions do not sprout on beaches across the State.

The Court also asked the government to ensure that water and electricity connections to such structures were disconnected and has ordered that criminal action be initiated against existing and ongoing illegal constructions on beaches.

The Environment Department has also been directed to recover environmental damage cos...