Have to also contend with presence of stray dogs
The contaminated Colva creek on Sunday.
MARGAO
The Colva creek has once again come under scrutiny as thousands of visitors flocked to the iconic Colva beach on Sunday, only to be greeted by polluted waters and poor maintenance along the stretch.
Tourists arriving at the world-famous beach were met with visibly dirty creek water, with signs of contamination and waste dumped along its stretch.
Many visitors, who crossed the pedestrian bridges over the creek to access the beach, expressed disappointment at the unhygienic conditions.
A local villager questioned the impression such scenes would leave on tourists.
“What kind of image will visitors take back with them after seeing the creek in this state?” he asked. “At the very least, authorities should ensure that the creek remains clean, especially over weekends when footfall is high.”
The issue of cleanliness was not the only concern raised. Visitors also had to contend with the presence of stray dogs along the beach. Several packs of dogs were seen roaming freely across the sandy stretch, raising safety concerns and reviving longstanding complaints about the authorities’ failure to address the persistent stray dog problem in the area.
Further compounding the situation was the poor condition of the children’s play area near the beach.
Families who brought their children to enjoy the facilities were disheartened to find broken and unusable play equipment. According to locals, requests had been made to authorities a couple of months ago to repair the damaged installations, but no action has been taken so far.
With Colva being one of Goa’s most popular tourist destinations, residents and visitors alike are calling for urgent intervention by the concerned authorities to address sanitation, safety, and infrastructure issues.
Many believe that maintaining basic standards of cleanliness and upkeep is essential to preserving the reputation of the beach and ensuring a positive experience for tourists.
