It is interesting that certian sections of those who spoke at the discussion convened by the authorities to hear people’s views emphasised that the blue flag certification to Miramar beach would be meaningless if the other pressing issues around the beach are not taken into consideration. For instance, keeping the area of the beach clean, but allowing the discharge of fetid water into the river that then flows into the sea, was unacceptable to some. They cannot be faulted for that reasoning, as the St Inez Creek that flows into the River Mandovi needs to be cleaned and cleared, and the casinos that stay anchored on the River Mandovi be sailed to a different spot, if Miramar is truly to become Goa’s blue flag certified beach.
And why? Because the certification can be given only if certain conditions are met, and these include the water meeting certain quality standards, there being waste disposal facilities, the beach access being disabled-friendly, the provision of first aid equipment, no access to pets in the main areas of the beach. Most important for this discussion is the water standards. Unless the St Inez Creek is cleaned, unless the casino boats are shifted, unless the shoreline is kept clean the water standard will not be met. Is it possible to meet the standards of water at Miramar beach, but fail to meet the same standards just a little further east of the beach?
It has been 19 months since Miramar beach has been nominated for the certification, and it has taken no steps to meet the criteria set by the international NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), to achieve the recognition. It, therefore, stands to reason that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), overseeing the project, has expressed its disappointment over the delay. Sadly, Goa has done nothing, and the opposition to the certification will not help expedite gaining it. Rather than take a confrontational attitude, the government needs to sit down and explain to the stakeholders – especially the traditional fishermen – why this will not affect their activities on the beach.
It is clear that if the project takes off, the beach has more to gain than to lose. Given that 22 of the 33 points set out in the criteria to meet the certification deal with the environment and the rest focus on people’s safety, should suffice to allay most fears. There will be no garbage or debris allowed to be dumped on the beach, there will be no noise pollution around the area; can this be bad? Right now Miramar does not meet the criteria, but with efforts it still can. And unless those efforts are put right away, the best beach that the State capital can boast of may miss the bus.
This has the appearances of an opportunity that Goa should not miss out on. There exists the possibility of getting the authorities to seriously take up the cleaning of the beach and also of the St Inez Creek, while also getting them to act on the casino vessels that are anchored in the river. If this can indeed happen, then the State should not lose the prospect of some development that is positive in nature, just because it has blinkered its vision to a naysay attitude that finds fault in every aspect. Time to change that attitude and be positive.
