A doctoral study submitted to Goa University titled “Study of the Impact of Anthropic Pressure on Coastal Landscape and its Influence upon the Coastal Vulnerability due to Climate Change along the Coastal Tracts of South Goa District, West Coast of India” mentions that rapid urbanisation, tourism-related development and changes in land use have increased the vulnerability of South Goa’s coastal belt to climate-related hazards.
For generations, Goa was defined by the charm of its coast, khazan lands, forests and fishing villages. This postcard image is facing a serious crisis, according to the study. Unchecked urbanisation and an increasingly tourism-driven development model are steadily replacing Goa’s natural landscape with concrete. Based on the coastal belt of South Goa, the study found that built-up areas increased by an alarming 60.25% between 2000 and 2020. Over the same period, agricultural land declined by 8.1%, while forest cover and natural water bodies also suffered significant losses. Mormugao and Salcete have emerged as particularly vulnerable talukas, with the entire belt of Mormugao falling into the highest-risk category on the Coastal Vulnerability Index.
At the heart of the problem is the over-exploitation of our natural resources. In the rush to realise tourism potential, planning has repeatedly favoured large infrastructure projects, real estate development and commercial expansion over ecological stability. The state’s fragile geography continues to be treated as an inconvenience rather than a constraint that development must respect.
Moreover, coastal erosion has become an increasingly serious ecological threat. The destruction of sand dunes and coastal vegetation weakens the coastline’s natural defence against storm surges and rising sea levels. Unplanned construction can also interfere with sediment movement, accelerating erosion, encouraging seawater ingress and threatening beaches and coastal headlands. The apparent protection offered by elevated terrain in some areas should not obscure the risks facing densely populated, low-lying urban pockets such as Vasco, where climate-related hazards are already placing vulnerable communities and informal settlements at greater risk.
Goa now stands at a critical crossroads, and changing course will require more than policy statements. It will require firm action. Firstly, environmental exemptions for projects that undermine the ecological integrity of the coast must end. Coastal regulations must be enforced consistently, without exceptions for politically or commercially influential projects.
Secondly, coastal planning must move beyond short-term real estate gains and focus on long-term climate resilience. In vulnerable areas such as Mormugao and Salcete, priority should be given to restoring sand dunes and protecting mangroves. Most importantly, the government must expedite the beach-carrying capacity study, which could serve as a blueprint.
Thirdly, khazan lands, forests, wetlands and estuarine ecosystems must be protected from indiscriminate conversion. These are not vacant tracts waiting for development; they are critical natural infrastructure that protects both communities and the economy. And lastly, the tourism department cannot continue to measure tourism success merely by counting the number of visitors. The state needs to move towards lower-impact tourism that respects local ecosystems and the carrying capacity of its villages, beaches and towns.
Goa was never meant to be defined by high-rises, clogged roads and retreating shorelines. Its appeal lies in its natural beauty, which complements the 'susegad' nature of the State. The government must therefore act before the damage becomes irreversible. Development has a place in Goa, but it must serve the long-term interests of the land and its people rather than the immediate demands of the tourism and real estate industries. If the State fails to strike that balance, the Goa that generations knew may survive only as a memory.
