Dolphin carcass, tar balls haunt Benaulim beach
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 29
Carcass of a dolphin and tar balls have come to haunt Benaulim beach, with the authorities not showing up till date to rid the beach of the nuisance.
In fact, local residents of Benaulim are sore over the delay and the failure of the authorities to deal with the tar ball menace affecting the beach.
A visit to the beach on Saturday revealed the extent of the menace affecting the sea shore. Washed ashore by the huge waves, the tar balls are resting on the beach – a fact that has not spurred action from the concerned authorities till date.
Locals in the know say the tar balls had made their presence felt along the Benaulim Beach a week ago.
Meters away, a carcass of a dolphin has been lying unattended by the authorities ever since it was washed ashore. A local resident Francisco Fernandes claimed that the unusual stranger has been resting on the beach since the last three years, but none of the authorities showed up to tackle the nuisance.
Saying that tourists avoid visiting the beach of the tar ball, Fernandes appealed to the government to intervene to take action against the vessels responsible for discharging oil in the high seas. “It’s seven days today that the beach was invaded by the tar balls. It will destroy the marine life. The government should take action”, he added.
Pointing out to the dolphin carcass lying on the beach for the last three days, he wondered how would tourism survive if the beaches are not maintained clean. “If these things keep away the tourists, it will affect our tourism”, he said.
