SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
ELVIS SEQUEIRA
PANJIM: The iconic Hollant Beach, near Bogmalo, which was once a famed picnic spot for Goans is slowly losing its charm. With garbage strewn all over the place mainly outsiders picnicking in gay abandon, the beach is no longer a preferred haunt.
The retaining wall of the beach which collapsed in the Cyclone Tauktae a year ago has not been repaired and will lead to further erosion. Above all the beach lacks infrastructure such as changing rooms and toilets and no parking space.
Speaking to Herald, former panch and resident of Hollant, Lawrence Rodrigues emphasised that the beach lacks basic facilities such as a changing room, toilet, and supply of water for consumption. He had out forth a proposal ten years ago. That’s right and nothing happened.
He also pointed out that with the increasing crowd, there is no space for people to park their vehicles. "In case of an emergency people will not be able to move out nor will help be able to reach here on time," said Rodrigues.
The once beautiful beach has now become an eyesore plagued with garbage. With no garbage bins on-site, people dump their garbage on private land that is used as a picnic spot. "The panchayat has not taken the initiative to put garbage bins, hence people dump garbage here," said Rodrigues. However, there are cleaners coming in to clean the beach area, not the land area where picnickers litter. "I have asked the higher authorities to instruct the beach cleaners to clean the picnic spot, but they claim the picnic spot is not part of the government property and belongs to a private owner," said Rodrigues
The picnic spot also houses a well which was once used by picnickers to have a wash after a long day in the sand and seawater. However now, the well remains contaminated and dirty, with glass and plastic bottles thrown in. "It is the panchayat's job to clean the well, and will put forth a proposal to the panchayat to clean the well so that it is suitable for public use." Rodrigues stated.
The beach has also suffered damage due to the destruction caused by Cyclone Tauktae. A part of the retaining wall collapsed and coconut trees were uprooted. May 16, 2022 marks one year since cyclone Tauktae left its trail of destruction over Goa, but the wall is yet to be repaired.
In fact, Rodrigues said that WRD officials received the file in January 2022. "The work won't be completed before monsoon; water could enter the village if the retaining wall is not repaired. There are at least four storms in Goa during the monsoon. What's left of the trees and the wall could get severely damaged," said Rodrigues.
