The coastline of North Goa almost in its entirety covering three talukas has reportedly been swamped by tarballs. Several popular beaches have been covered with these oily substances. The tarball menace has become an annual feature as a result of sludge released by the ships into the ocean. These are washed ashore due to strong monsoon winds. These tarballs contain a high concentration of heavy hydrocarbons, organic compounds that can cause cancer in human beings, besides complete destruction of marine life. Contact with these tarballs could also affect the skin, especially in the case of children playing on the beach. These tarballs can attract various heavy metals, including nickel, copper, and cobalt which can prove dangerous for humans. Normally, the phenomenon takes place at the start of the monsoon. But this year it has taken place when we are in the middle of the South-West monsoon.
Successive governments have failed to impound the ships which release the sludge into the ocean. It is understood that normally the oily substance is washed back into the sea during the high tide. The residual tarball on the beach sand needs to be cleared by the authorities concerned. In future, the state government needs to take necessary steps to prevent the occurrence of tarball menace along the Goan coastline.
