Tar balls and plastic waste washed ashore at popular Mobor beach, sparking serious concern among locals and visitors over rising coastal pollution.
Residents report facing this problem for many years. “We have also called NIO team; they have carried out studies but no solution has come up,” Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz stated.
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A local resident said the pollution, likely linked to ocean-borne oil residue, has worsened this year, forming large tar deposits and emitting a strong foul smell. Dead Blue Button jellyfish have also been found along the other beaches in South Goa, adding to environmental worries.
Despite past studies by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), no lasting solution has been found. Local authorities, hotels, and panchayat workers have stepped in to assist with clean-up efforts, deploying extra staff. However, residents stress that this is a larger issue requiring urgent intervention from both state and central governments to identify the root cause and protect tourism, fishing livelihoods, and marine ecosystems.
The community urges authorities to take immediate clean-up measures and investigate the pollution source urgently.
