MARGAO
Hazard a guess how many district disaster management authority officials have descended at the world famous Colva beach to take stock of the sea erosion that has hit the beach in an unprecedented manner this season?
Pose this question to the local residents of Colva and aptly comes the reply they did not come across any officials descending at the beach to take stock of the sea erosion.
Incidentally, The Goan had first highlighted the sea erosion at Colva beach around 10 days ago, just when the rains had pounded the State.
In fact, on June 23, the newspaper had reported how erosion had hit the world famous beach in the early days of the rains.
The erosion was so intense that the creek waters changed its course and headed towards the northern side, to the side of the children’s park and beyond, instead of entering the sea.
In fact, on June 26, the newspaper again reported that the soil erosion is posing a threat to the lamps and gazebos installed on the beach as part of the beach beautification plan under the Central-government scheme.
While the locals feared that the worst would befall at Colva, given that the nature’s fury was at its peak, they claimed that none of the officials came to inspect the beach for an on the spot study of the situation.
On July 1, one of the gazebos crashed into the waters, while the sea erosion left cracks on the retaining wall, which was reported by the The Goan on July 2, the day when local Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas got Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to inspect the place and save the beach from further erosion.
Incidentally, the Tourism Minister was candid in admitting that the issue at hand not only affects the beach and tourism, but an issue which requires coordinated action by the district disaster management authority headed by the Collector, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Water Resources Department.
After the inspection, the Tourism Minister has promised to draw attention of the South Goa district Collector to initiate steps to contain erosion with the help of line departments including the Water Resources Department.
Local fishermen pointed out the short-term measures should be put in place by the authorities on top priority during the dry spell before further damage is caused to the coast.
CALLS FOR SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM MEASURES TO ARREST SOIL EROSION