Goa, Feb. 2 -- Arambol beach used to be a secluded, clean stretch, perfect to spend a relaxing evening - despite the rush of tourists, it was still considered a safe beach. The recent incident where a man was beaten up by shack workers at Arambol is a wake-up call for the government as well as those who frequent that beach, a sign that things are deteriorating at a rapid pace.

The proliferation of some shabby shacks serving low quality food is evident by the number of shack workers loitering around the beach, calling out to people and pestering beachgoers. These shacks have left hardly any space for walkers - during the day, beach beds and umbrellas abound, while after sundown, their chairs and tables are spread out over the beach, forci...