MARGAO
After the annual monsoon break, shacks have started resurfacing at the Benaulim beach ahead of the new tourism season, but a host of issues plaguing the Salcete's popular beach are craving for attention from the tourism and local authorities.
A visit to the Benaulim beach belt has revealed that shack owners are busy erecting the temporary thatched structures along the beach. A shack owner informed that Benaulim is entitled for 12 shacks, but the beach may host only 11 shacks this year.
A stroll down the beach towards Varca only brought to the fore the stray dog menace affecting Benaulim beach. Dozens of stray dogs were on the prowl on the beach belt with none of the authorities stepping in to nip the menace in the bud. Local residents, shack owners as well as visitors complain that the stray dog menace may affect the image of Benaulim beach.
Locals recalled how an UK national of Goan origin was bitten by a stray dog when he and his family were taking a stroll on the beach around two months ago. "The authorities, be it the tourism or the local village panchayat, should step in to contain the stray dog menace. What we have been observing from close quarters is that the stray dogs indeed pose a big nuisance to the visitors at the Benaulim beach," remarked a local resident.
Illumination of the beach area is also an issue with the shack owners and others visiting the beach late evenings. The high mast lamp erected on the left hand side of the beach is awaiting repairs for the last two years. A shack owner informed that they had in the past repaired the high mast lamp with their contributions, but hastened to add that the authorities should step in and illuminate the lamp. "The main beach square is now illuminated, but the portion on the left side, where the shacks will come up needs to be illuminated," informed a shack owner.
On sanitation, shack owners maintained that while they make a provision for individual toilets, a common STP mechanism for the shacks would have achieved the purpose. They, however, pointed out that the Tourism department's toilet block and changing room at the beach will go a long way to mitigate the sanitation problem. The Tourism department has proposed a toilet block and changing room at the Benaulim beach, besides developing the government owned space into a parking lot.
Meanwhile, a government team comprising of officials of the CRZ, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Tourism inspected the shacks erected on the beach belt from Benaulim to Cavelossim. Based on the inspection report, the department will start the process of issuing licences for the beach shacks in the new tourism season.
