MARGAO
Sadly, leave alone the construction of the proposed changing rooms and toilet block sanctioned for Colva beach under the Tourism scheme, basic infrastructure, including collection and disposal of waste and garbage is still a far cry, giving the beach a bad look.
A visit to the beach on Monday revealed the apathy and indifference on the part of the government department responsible in addressing the burning waste issue or putting other infrastructure in place.
A garbage mound just behind the tourism shopping complex indicates that waste generated at the Colva beach is neither collected nor lifted away on a day-to-day basis. The beach itself was littered with beer bottles, raising questions how beer bottles could find its way on the beach despite the ban on carrying liquor bottles on the beach and the presence of the police.
That's not all. Stray dogs have made the beach their second home, with no authority coming forth to tackle menace despite the increase in the population of strays along Salcete's beach belt manifold.
Says Colva panchayat member, Laureana Fernandes, representing the beach area: "I have written a letter to the panchayat body about the garbage piled up behind the tourism shopping complex. The garbage heap is posing nuisance and inconvenience to the tourists and visitors. The entire area has turned unhygienic emanating foul odour," she said.
Sarpanch Anthony Mam Fernandes echoed similar sentiments. He said the panchayat has asked the Tourism department to take care of the waste accumulation in its property from time to time. "The garbage contractor engaged by the Tourism department should ensure that the beach belt remains waste-free and environment-friendly when the government is paying huge money for the work," Sarpanch Anthony said, adding that visitors and tourists will only carry a bad image of Colva if the beach is not maintained properly.
Former sarpanch and water sports operator, Menino Fernandes said that the beach contractor should be made to clean the beach square too given that the entire area is a tourist spot.
"In the past, I had got the water sports operators contribute to keep the beach clean. With the commencement of the new tourism season, I feel the government and other departments should step in to stop the rot,"
he said.
