Arambol beach used to be a secluded, clean stretch, perfect to spend a relaxing evening – despite the rush of tourists, it was still considered a safe beach. The recent incident where a man was beaten up by shack workers at Arambol is a wake-up call for the government as well as those who frequent that beach, a sign that things are deteriorating at a rapid pace.
The proliferation of some shabby shacks serving low quality food is evident by the number of shack workers loitering around the beach, calling out to people and pestering beachgoers. These shacks have left hardly any space for walkers – during the day, beach beds and umbrellas abound, while after sundown, their chairs and tables are spread out over the beach, forcing people to walk around them.
One part of the beach has been taken over by ice cream vendors – there are dozens of carts jostling for space on every metre of the beach and these ice cream carts stay on the beach until the wee hours of the morning – why are they given permission to stay on the beach so late? Who are they catering to?
The beauty of Arambol, and even the beach alongside the sweet water lake, has been ruined by the thriving illegal businesses. There are unlicenced eateries and even shady lodges all along the rocky beach stretch, and its no mystery where their sewage and waste is being dumped. Cheap shacks with rooms for hire next to the sweet water lake have large pipes sucking water from the spring that feeds the iconic lake.
The beach may be cut off, but it still should be kept clean and safe for people to visit. I urge the authorities to come down strongly on all the encroachments, illegal shacks and lodges and the polluters to save Arambol from a certain death.