MARGAO
But, welcome to world famous Colva beach, which virtually lying in a state of utter neglect for want of an action plan from the Tourism Department towards the beach upkeep and maintenance, visited by domestic and foreigners alike.
A visit to Colva beach on Thursday revealed a disturbing scenario where waste and litter is literally the order of the day. Leave alone with the absence of changing rooms or mobile toilets close to the shore, the beach is indeed craving for attention from the authorities with waste and litter invading the beach stretch and the adjoining coconut groove.
Domestic visitors and even the life guards posted at the beach were spotted negotiating the waste spread across the white silvery sands, while empty liqour bottles lay abandoned all over the beach.
The water bodies have not been spared either. Waste has found its way into the polluted creek with no one around to carry out the clean up of the beach and the adjoining areas. Locals pointed out that the beach has not been cleaned of the waste and litter since the last couple of days, turning the entire area an eyesore.
A week ago, Colva Sarpanch Menino Fernandes had employed a group of labourers to clean the area, but the panchayat operation was restricted at the parking area, around the round-about circle. “The beach and the parking area comes under the domain of the Tourism Department contractor, but since the parking area lay neglected and ignored by the department, we have taken up the initiative to clean up the entire area”, Menino said.
When The Goan called up Tourism Director Sanjeev Desai to shed light on the worsening situation at the Colva beach, he said he would seek a report from his subordinate officials on the status at the beach. “The beach cannot be left unattended. I had told our officials to ensure that the waste and litter is lifted away everyday,” Sanjeev said, while promising to immediately check the ground reality.
What’s important to note is the fact that Colva beach is unlikely receive any major funding to spruce up the amenities in the immediate future with the much-hyped Colva circuit plan already down and out. And, inquiries with the Tourism Director have only revealed that the Tourism Department had forwarded a fresh proposal to the Centre to fund the circuit plan for Colva. “We have already submitted a fresh plan to the Centre to spruce up the amenities at the Colva beach. We are awaiting a reply from the Union government,” the tourism director informed.
On the eve of the Colva Fama last month, which attracts devotees from far and wide to the tourist village, local MLA Caitu Silva had demanded the resignation of Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar for ignoring Colva during the last four years and half. The ground reality has remained unchanged since then, even as the stake holders are gearing up to welcome visitors to the world famous beach.
