PANAJI
A whopping ` 55 crore has been spent by the Water Resources Department (WRD) on preventing sea erosion along several of Goa’s beaches and river beds. Tiracol River as well as the Zuari and Sal were also part of the anti-sea erosion measures taken up.
Keri beach received the most attention under the Golden Jubilee Package under which 750 meters of the beach was strengthened against the phenomenon of wearing away of land along water bodies. Taken at an expense of several crores of rupees, Keri beach was strengthened and armored against a sea wall by the laying of concrete tetrapods at the beach. Anti-sea erosion and beach protection measures were also adopted under the Golden Jubilee package that had been received from the centre in 2012.
Betalbatim’s Sunset Beach also got a makeover to prevent sea erosion with tetrapods and through concrete works worth ` 4.30 crore. The area it covers is 900 meters of the beach. Other areas that received attention was River Tiracol, Baga beach, Dongrim, St Cruz, Siolim and Anjuna.
Khandepar on Mhadei, River Guleli on Salaulim, protection work to banks at Nuvem on River Sal as well as protection works on the banks of River Zuari were also completed.
Work for which an estimate is under process includes anti-sea erosion and protective measures at Kante Baina Sea Shore at Vasco extending to total of 605 meters. Other beaches that will soon also have anti sea erosion measures in place include Velsao Beach, Arossim beach. Proposed work has also been suggested on the banks at Bandawada Neturlim, and near Kushawati River at Deulmol.
The WRD also informed that it was monitoring Goa’s beaches and as soon as major erosion sites were identified, the cases were referred to the Central Water and Power & Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, to conduct model studies. The suggestions and solutions proposed are then implemented by the department, they said.
The state government had received a ` 200 crore package from the central government of which an estimated ` 70 crore was used to clear the bill of the contractor M/s Arihant Shipping engaged to remove the grounded River Princess vessel. In addition the WRD had also sanctioned ` 75 crore for anti-sea erosion measures.
