The coastal village of Benaulim is literally drowning in garbage, courtesy apathetic tourists, locals not having access to garbage disposal facilities. From the paddy fields, to the roads, to the beach, to the ponds to even private green areas, the land is awash with waste with no one bothered to clean up the area. There is a waste processing plant adjoining the Cana Benaulim panchayat ghar but that too seems to be of no use. Basic civic sense seems to be largely absent among the citizens and lack of house to house waste collection has compounded the problem. It won't be long before the quaint coastal villages sink in a sea of trash. Urgent steps must be taken to implement a structured waste management system, enforce penalties for littering, and ensure that the village does not deteriorate into an ecological disaster.