Alfred Fernandes
Sanguem: The Madel Beach, an ambitious project of the Water Resources Department, constructed alongside the backwaters of Selaulim Dam at Valkini village in Sanguem is on the verge of turning into a lovers’ paradise and a safe place for the conduct of nefarious activities.
Though the project was smartly planned and placed at the right location, which comprises a vast area of jogging track and an ample place for family outings and other leisure activities, Madel Beach in absence of any infrastructural facilities has failed to get listed on the tourism sector as of date.
The project, initiated a few years ago tops the youth list visiting Sanguem. Ironically, even after two years of completion of the project work, the department has failed to inaugurate the project as of date, much to the chagrin of villagers.
The project, as envisaged by its promoters, was supposed to be an added tourist attraction in Sanguem, besides the famous Selaulim Dam and the GFDC-owned botanical garden.
However, the so-called ‘ambitious’ project literally failed in taking off in the right direction on account of poor planning by the WRD and has ultimately proved to be a welcome boon to young lovers, who spend time at the serene backwaters of the Selaulim Dam without any fear of law enforcing agencies.
As the project is located about 500 metres from the main village road, young lovers on the pretext of going to college, head to the secluded Madel Beach and allegedly involve in all sort of love games, thereby bringing disrepute to the project site.
The nefarious activities being carried out at the beach has been, however, severely criticized by the locals, who have on several occasions asked for remedial action and have urged the Water Resources Department to employ security officials at the site.
Panchayat member Manoj Paryekar, while condemning the presence of young lovers at the site, claimed it would be appropriate if the men in uniform visit the Madel Beach at regular intervals. He said the number of young couples visiting Madel Beach have been to be increasing at each passing day and feared of unwanted happenings taking place at the beach site.
Paryekar opined that regular visit by men in uniform and the deputation of security guards by the department would bring things under control and help reduce the increasing number of young couple visiting the Madel Beach.
He pointed out that given the scenic beauty, the project has to offer lots and a large number of tourist are bound to visit the site.
However, the absence of any infrastructural facilities has discouraged families and tourists from the visiting the site. Besides, the project does not have refreshment and/or drinking water facilities and also lacks the much-needed shade to rest during the afternoon hours.
Fortunately, the project is equipped with solar lighting, but taking advantage of lack of security there, miscreants have reportedly begun damaging the electricity fixtures at the site. The solar feeders are also prone of being robbed on account of the location of the project in the remote area.
Villagers have also made a fervent appeal to the Water Resources Minister to pay a visit to the beach and take stock of the situation, to bring further development of the Madel Beach in the best interest of the tourist visiting the site.
It is also noted by villagers that in the absence of any arrangement to water the plants that were planted at the project site may soon die.
