Children’s Park in shambles. Women sound bitter over absence of changing rooms and lack of toilet facilities
TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: It is summer time and what better way for Shastikars to beat the summer heat than to head to Colva beach. The elderly, in particular, do not miss a sea water bath as they believe that its medicinal properties offer cure for joint pains.
Sadly, Colva beach appears to be neglected, with locals complaining of absence of bare minimum facilities, including sanitation, changing rooms, security et al. In fact, children accompanying parents for the picnic have nothing to cheer about as the Children’s Park lies in shambles since the last two years.
Women sounded bitter over the absence of changing rooms and lack of toilet facilities. In the absence of mobile toilets, women say they are forced to track nearly 300 metres to answer nature’s call. Repeated requests to the Tourism Department to install mobile toilets have fallen on deaf ears.
Says Anita Pereira: “I have been visiting Colva Beach for the last 15-20 years during summer time. A sea bath gives a relief from joint pains. But, we are sad that the government has till date not installed a single changing room at the Colva Beach for the benefit of women”.
Another woman, Zena D’Costa echoed similar sentiments. She said that the absence of any provision for mobile toilets and changing rooms put women in great hardships.
The Children’s Park overlooking the beach also lies in a neglected State. The play items installed at the park are craving for attention, with none of them in working condition. The benches installed in the park are either awaiting repairs or replacement.
That’s not all. It is months now since the retaining wall of the creek running parallel to the Children’s Park had collapsed, but is still awaiting repairs.
On the illumination front, the less said, the better. Colva Beach plays host to two high mast lamps and two four arm lamps, but all the lamps intended to illuminate the beach are in non-working condition. The power cable of a four-arm lamp was used for drying of clothes. Solar lamps installed all across the Children’s Park are damaged and non-functioning for want f maintenance, facilitating anti-social activity in the park after sunset.
Says Colva Civic and Consumer Forum activist, Alexander D’Souza: “No one seems bothered to stem the rot at Colva Beach. Women are the worst hit in the absence of changing rooms and toilets. We had asked for five mobile toilets at the beach, but in vain. Repeated request to spruce up the children’s park has fallen on deaf ears”.
