MARGAO
The tar balls menace has raised its ugly head along Salcete coastal belt. Tar balls surfaced along the coastal belt on Friday, with local stakeholders including fishermen and water sports operators urging the authorities including the Tourism department to ensure the coast is kept free from the oily substance.
Reports of tar balls washed ashore along the Benaulim beach belt came to light on Friday. Traces of the oily substance has also been noticed at other stretches along the Salcete coastline.
Benaulim-based fisherman Pele Fernandes on Friday made a fervent plea to the Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to ensure that the beach belt is kept clean and free from tarballs.
He has feared that the tall ball menace will keep domestic tourists and visitors on the beach belt.
“Only a month to go for curtains to come down on the tourism season, including water sports activities. The stakeholders, including the water sports operators, have just one month to earn from the business and eke a living before the activity is stopped during the monsoons,” Pele said.
He made a plea to the Tourism Minister to direct his officials and the beach cleaning team to move in swiftly and clear the tar balls and the oily substance from the beach belt whenever the same is washed ashore.
Goa’s beach belt faces the brunt of the tarball menace during this part of the year when the oily substance is washed ashore before the onset of monsoons. Though the situation is not as bad as has been in the past, the stakeholders fear the worst in the coming days and hence have alerted the Tourism authorities to be ready for the clean-up exercise.
It is suspected that huge vessels and containers discharge oil while ailing in the high seas before the oil is washed before the onset of monsoons. Pleas made by the stakeholders in the past to stop the menace by bringing the erring cargo vessels to book have not been taken to a logical conclusion to date.
