On a recent visit to Palolem beach, one of the most famous beaches in Goa, some of the prominent residents of Palolem and other wards of Canacona, showed this Herald correspondent the sorry state of affairs at the famous beach and other adjoining beaches.
Social worker Dhiraj Gaonkar said that there is no sufficient parking space, no proper garbage collection and the Lamanis and other touts harass the tourists. He blamed the present Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) members who, after getting elected have forgotten the voters.
He specifically mentioned the councilor of Palolem ward, Dayanand Pagui for taking the issue of closure of activities on the Konko Island. Dhiraj pointed out that the owner of the Konko Island, Rajesh Jog took permission from the concerned authorities and that a team from the Centre recently visited the island and gave him permission to construct additional shacks.
He pointed out that in spite of taking on the Konko issue, Pagui should solve the basic problem faced by the residents that is garbage, water, proper electricity, stray cattle and stray dogs etc.
Rampant illegal constructions are going on along the coast at Palolem, Ovrem and Patnem beaches in the taluka and Pagui has taken the Konko issue as the major issue and doesn’t talk anything about other illegal constructions in his ward. The local residents have urged the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) authorities to inspect the same on a priority basis.
Speaking to Herald, Pagui said that these beaches fall under the jurisdiction of the Canacona Municipality but the authorities have failed to act on several complaints about the illegal constructions and he should not be blamed. He further pointed out that the Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the mushrooming of unauthorized and illegal constructions beyond the sanctioned plans in towns and cities and favoured strict action against such constructions, in spite of that the illegal constructions increasing day by day in Canacona municipality and that concerned officers should act on it.
Principal of Vividha Commercial Institute, Succour Fernandes who lives on the beach front said that garbage is strewn all along the beach and there is no proper collection and if collected, is disposed off in open spaces and even the courtyard of the CMC office.
According to another resident who wished not be named, he said that regular foreign tourists who used to visit Palolem have pointed out that they never saw the place so dirty before. They complained that the street lights don’t function properly, power supply is erratic and there is voltage fluctuation all throughout the day and night.
That apart, stray cattle and dogs sometimes outnumber tourists and they are not impounded by the CMC. During the tenure of ex-CMC Chairperson, Simon Rebello, who shelled out money from his own pocket, employed the services of foreigners who were specialized in sterilizing the stray dogs that were trapped and handed over to them. But after Rebello lost his office, the exercise was stopped.
A school teacher, Manoj Gaonkar said that some years ago, a teacher recalled that foreign and domestic tourists used to walk freely on the beach and sit under the shade of the coconut tree but today the situation is different as the beach is an open field for stray dogs and cattle and unauthorized sales persons who don’t have vendors licenses who harass tourists.
It was observed that there is only one pay parking site for vehicles which is always full and tourists park their vehicles along the road side which leads to congestion on the narrow road. And to compound the traffic woes, illegal stalls selling goods occupy the sides of the road as well.
The entrance towards Palolem beach is only through this road. Additionally, shacks have cropped up and have left no space vacant for people to walk towards the beach.
Some shack owners along the beach front have put barricades and they open the same only for tourists that order food items or liquor from their outlets. Konko Island, located some meters away from Palolem beach at Canacona has once again come into the news and this time Pagui has raised objections to the development activity that is going on in an area admeasuring 64,000 square meters.
Ilegal constructions are also mushrooming on the land just opposite the Konko Island but Pagui is not ready to say anything concrete on it although he says that he has not noticed such illegal construction, even though he was asked about it at a press conference recently by a section of reporters. Hence, people suspect something is amiss.
Sanjiv Pagui of Palolem said that there are frequent drunken brawls amongst the tourists and the few constables deputed over there are sometimes not able to control the intoxicated persons armed with bottles and closed fists.
