Beach tourism for a coastal state like Goa is an important source of revenue and there for preserving this source is of cardinal importance in the governance of the State. No doubt over the years there are more and more tourists visiting the beaches in Goa, even many remote and inaccessible beaches are now being frequented by tourists . There is of course much enhanced activity in terms of beach tourism, but the bigger question is, has it been made sustainable?
In this era, where development is the mantra politicians of every hue and cry would like to espouse and even take credit, sustainability is an inconvenient term. In that sense there is perceptible degradation of Goa’s beaches is a reality, be it the erosion of sand dunes, or soil. The beaches over the years have become not just unsafe but dangerous. Many of the beaches are strewn with broken glass pieces, dirt, plastic bags and a number of waste. There seems to be a culture especially among the tourists that beaches in Goa are meant to be abused and destroyed because after all they have come to enjoy and enjoyment for them includes destructive behaviour, for that is what they have come for and the locals, would only add to such destruction.
This is in sharp contrast to tourists visiting Andaman’s. The very approach and the attitude of the tourists visiting Andamans is totally different. They go to Andaman’s to enjoy nature, take in the serene beauty, peace and tranquility of the beaches and take in that fresh air as if it is a precious commodity, but when they come to Goa, it’s like going to a prostitute, for they want maximum pleasure, maximum enjoyment and that is by abuse. Drunken and unruly behaviour, being stoned with drugs and strewing eatables and plastics breaking bottles after consuming are accepted sort of behaviors while in Goa.
There is a total lack of political will, administrative and enforcement deficit, coupled with incompetency and corruption at all levels of governance. The behaviour of the tourists is entirely different if they visit any other part of the world or even India why has the government sold this idea that Goa is just for enjoyment and all kinds of enjoyment, be it, alcohol, gambling or drugs?
The local panchayat has to have a code of conduct for tourists regarding the use of beach and other amenities, disposal of used food its packing or glasses and any violations should be punished with hefty fines. The same to be notified in each and every beach entrance areas. To ensure compliance panchayat should charge at least a minimum entry fee for every tourist, parking areas to be defined and pay parking introduced, this will not only generate revenue but also provide employment to locals. The revenue generated should go to provide toilets and washing facilities at the beach.
Prohibition of smoking and use of alcohol and drugs should be notified as many times and as many places as possible. Educate the common public and school children about the harm that is being caused to the beaches and how to prevent, forge partnership with educational institutions to promote safe and clean tourism in Goa.
These are just few methods by which Andaman is able to preserve its beauty despite the tourist influx.
Goa seems to be on the fast track of development now a days. In the name of development, Goa is witnessing large scale re-alignment, building of road and widening of roads There are multi-complexes and housing complexes, commercial establishments coming up almost in all villages and even the remotest, all these are done in the name of development, presumably to cater to the needs of tourists and immigrating population, which are unprecedented. Whether these are developments and whether Goa requires, these kinds of developments have very strong and genuine counter arguments, but the fact remains that all these activities have in more than one way caused environmental degradation in Goa is an undisputed reality. The concern remains.
What is the Government doing about it, to repatriate and repair these environmental damages. Goa of course, is a victim of the degradation caused due to un controlled and unrestricted mining which has resulted is loss of health and livelihood of many, not necessarily because of mining but due to its mismanagement. With so many trees and plants being uprooted, the oxygen content might have come down by tons, which will intern cause many environment related consequence not only to humans but also to plants and animals, destruction of any eco-system is bound to have its impact.
The barest minimum any governments could do is encourage and support tree Plantation activities on a war footing, enlist educational institutions, NGOs, government departments, social and religious institutions to undertake tree plantations so that for every tree cut at least ten are planted,.
The recent trend in politics is towards the irrelevant, be it Padmaavat or century old Darwin’s theory but environmental degradation is a serious and dangerous matter which requires not just public utterances but concrete remedial actions by all. The coastal zone violations are so rampant in Goa despite many, many orders of the High Court, is evident if one travels around the coastal regions of Goa, there is a need for an independent agency to study how the building mafia has been able to circumvent or even violate the law with the government often becoming a silent spectator or an accomplice. How even the activists were often satisfied with the name and fame they attained with court orders and left further pursuit of the issue is intriguing? Environmental consciousness and the urge to protect our environment has to be built in as an habit and mere rhetoric may not save this Land of the Gods, (Goa) from destruction.
(The writer is a Professor of Law & former Dean, Faculty of Law, Goa University).
