The littoral states of India are blessed with a unique instrument that governs human interventions in the coastal zones. Any alteration along the coastal strips has to be carried out in harmony with the guidelines for development as stipulated in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2011 notification. Fortunately for some, the CRZ 2011 document has several special provisions for the state of Goa. A major concession is that setting of makeshift shacks is officially permitted along the beaches. The prevailing guidelines [Regulation / Para 8 V 3 (iii)] allow “purely temporary and seasonal structures customarily put up between the months of September to May”.
The recent (2017) official amendment related to temporary beach shacks came like a bolt from the blue. These improvised structures can now remain in place through the monsoon period, provided that they remain in-operational. Such an exercise appears to be the groundwork for permanent beach shacks of the future. The scientific comments about the detrimental effects submitted by two members of GCZMA in July 2016 were never considered. A solace for commercial stakeholders, this amendment is a major setback from an ecological perspective, in particular the functioning of beach – dune ecosystems.
We need to understand and accept that a sandy beach is an asset of the ocean; that is why beaches of the world are designated as inter-tidal zones. This is the site where the sea waves dissipate their extraordinary energy, and thus the ultimate resting place of the mighty ocean. Due to its energetic behaviour, a beach can be labeled as nature’s playing field, with the ocean as its dominant occupier. Therefore, any human intervention along the dynamic sea front, the sandy beach in particular, can translate into drastic modifications of the geomorphology of the coastal zone. The grounding of River Princess at Candolim, a wreck that was entrenched for 11 years, taught us very grave lessons. Precious coastal property at Sinquerim was lost to the sea.
Note that officially approved beach shacks are structures to be located on dry beach, seaward of the dune and with a setback of 3 metres from the vegetation line. For the sake of beach ecology, the GCZMA had issued guidelines for the shacks to operate in an environment friendly manner so as to save dune fields from unwarranted footfalls. However, in most cases the ecological principles are flouted with impunity; dunes are being transgressed. In comparison, private shacks are those located on / behind the sand dunes, in the private lands, all of which fall in the No Development Zone (NDZ) where no commercial activity is permitted. Structures on private lands do not stand legal scrutiny as declared by the National Green Tribunal. As such, the recent amendment applies only to government approved improvised structures located on the dry beach.
From a scientific perspective, the kind of impact of “temporary turned permanent structures” on a dynamic sandy beach during inclement weather may be difficult to predict. However, based on known examples in scientific literature, it can be confidently hypothesized that the “purely temporary structures” on the beach during monsoons will lead to monetary losses, and will undoubtedly create dramatic modifications in the morphology and damage to the ecology of coasts.
The beaches of Goa are by and large stable. During monsoon period (June – August) wind driven waves create a wave up-rush whereby ocean water reaches the base of frontal pioneer dunes. Stronger the winds, higher will be the wave effect. This process often results in the erosion of frontal dune face. During fair weather, the sand is returned to the beach, and blowing winds carry sand further backshore thus rejuvenating the pioneer dune fields. The presence of shacks at this time is definitely going to impede and hence upset the delicate geological process of natural beach replenishment that starts from September.
Presently, shacks are erected during fair weather beginning September. These locations invariably turn hostile due to monsoon related rough weather from June to August. During monsoons, the coast of Goa gets a direct hit from westerly waves. It is well established that during the months of June and July, wind speed increases several fold, often reaching a cyclonic state (around 40-50 km/h). Waves are driven by surface winds; as such, higher the intensity of airstreams, higher is the height of incoming waves. Sea waves thus break higher up on the beach, and often reach the base of sand dunes. Therefore, the location where the shacks (once) stood will be occupied by the sea when wind speed increases, as the wave up rush is induced by the ocean surface winds. The beach is thus episodically invaded by marine water. Therefore, leaving a shack in its former location is tantamount to abandoning the structure in the sea.
Any object on the beach, within the reach of waves, tends to sink with time as the natural dissipation of approaching waves is hampered due to obstructions in its path. Small eddies are created; eventually, the sand around is removed leading to an erosive process. The same can be applied to a shack that is left on the beach. The innumerable vertical poles embedded in sand will act to the detriment of wave attenuation, sand will move away, thus leading to localized beach erosion. In such a hostile situation, a row of 10-15 shacks will not be able to face a restless mighty ocean.
Morjim beach can serve as a distraught example. All the 15 shacks which ought to be on the beach have, instead, invaded the dunes. The beach levels have fallen and the vegetation line has receded significantly. In December 2013, the highest high tide overshot the beach and flooded the shacks; it happened during fair weather!
In summary, Allowing the beach shacks to remain in the intertidal zone during monsoon would result in a highly vulnerable situation where the temporary structure is likely to be washed off. The area around the shack would definitely come under the grip of erosive activity, due to additional turbulence, if engulfed / attacked by high monsoonal waves; the shack may be buried; these impacts, although highly likely, may be difficult to predict.
(Dr Antonio Mascarenhas is a former scientist, NIO, Goa.)
