the goan I network
PANAJI
With the tourist season now here, and beaches being the primary attraction in the state, authorities concerned are yet to take cognisance of the broken benches at Miramar Beach. The benches are for the benefit of both tourists and locals who make use of them to relax at the beach.
Consumer Forum representatives Owen Braganza, Camil Pinto, Celes Fernandes and Eudes D’Souza on visiting the beach found that these benches have cement bits fallen of, iron rods protruding, shaky base support, and in one case the bench is placed on stones.
They also found that the area has not been cleaned, the parapet not painted and large amount of sand found on the pavement, making it difficult for visitors to walk. Moreover it was evident that there was no supervision of the area either on a daily or weekly basis.
While expressing concern about the pathetic condition of these benches, consumer rights organisation GOACAN wrote to the additional collector-1 of North Goa for immediate replacement of the benches, besides supervision and regular maintenance to be carried out on these facilities for citizens. “These benches are mostly used by senior citizens who visit the beach during their morning walk, as well as in the evening when they visit the beach to enjoy the sunset. Therefore, they must immediately be replaced so as to avoid any harm caused to those using these benches,” read the letter addressed to the additional collector Vikas Gaunekar.
The team inspected the area after receiving complaints from senior citizens that these benches were in bad shape. The visit was a part of the observance of the GOACAN Vigilance Awareness Week 2018 with the theme “I Care.”
Immediate repair of the benches is also important in light of the International Film Festival (IFFI) in just over two weeks. GOACAN maintains that this disgrace will be for all to see in the so called Smart City of Panaji.
GOACAN in its letter has also requested the Additional Collector to take up with Tourism Department and the CCP the related issues of survey of the area to identify spots for additional benches to be fixed to cater to the senior citizens and others visiting the beach, painting of the parapet and other structures in the children’s play area, removal of the sand that is getting blown on the pavement, fixing appropriate signage with do’s and don’ts and a helpline number and email id to provide feedback to the departments concerned, fixing the responsibility for cleaning of this area on a daily basis as well as fixing responsibility of daily supervision.
