Coastal erosion is a seasonal phenomenon as nature chips into the shore during the monsoon and mostly returns what is lost, but the severe damage witnessed in some areas of the coast, especially Ashwem, Mandrem, Baga, Baina, Velsao, Cansaulim, Sernabatim-Colva and Cola-Canacona raised a concern among local residents as well as State authorities as the sea made deeper inroads in new spots along the coast.
Large parts of the luxuriantly sandy beaches along the State’s coast have been gobbled up by the rough sea. The fisherfolk and others residing near the beaches, while agreeing that sand erosion is a normal phenomenon, are of the opinion that the erosion has been unusually severe this season.
The havoc inflicted by powerful waves in Sernabatim-Colva has led to literally shaving off blocks of sand, resulting in precipitous drop in the surf zone. Sand dune vegetation on a part of the beach has been washed away by the rampaging waves. At least 20 per cent of the vegetation on this stretch of the shore has disappeared into the sea.
In Velsao, a stretch of the shoreline at Dando, the traditional hub of the fishing activity, lies in shambles. A severe wave attack has hollowed out sandy patches, leaving a scary image of a once beautiful sandy shore. Major chunks of the Velsao and neighboring Cansaulim beaches, which remained undestroyed for many years, have eroded this monsoon season.
Another beach stretch further South in Betalbatim is regularly facing massive erosion and a whole block of sand dune has gone down with the waves, even though the State Water Resources Department (WRD) has initiated certain protective measures along the coast. In fact, the State government has been trying many tactics at various beaches, including sand bags and other methods like geo tubes which till date have not managed to solve or even slow down the problem.
Despite protective measures initiated, the Baina Beach in Vasco faced a severe onslaught of the rough sea, and as a result, South Goa district authorities were compelled to evacuate hundreds of people living along the shore, and moving them to safer areas of Chicalim and Cortalim. During the last monsoon season, severe erosion of the Baina beach had critically exposed the pipeline of the Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Limited (ZIOTL) causing panic among the residents of the port town.
Last year, Morjim was worst affected during the monsoon season. The fishing community had to face a severe wrath of the sea. The sea level rose higher than usual and barged into their huts, sweeping away their canoes, nets and other fishing equipments. In fact, the surging waves severely hit about 20 traditional huts on the sand dunes along the coast in the property belonging to the State Ports administration at Tembwada and Vithaldaswada, Morjim.
Instead, a lot of Goa’s beaches have eroded. The erosion of beaches in the state assumed alarming proportions. Already, huge chunks of most popular tourist locations like Colva, Candolim, Anjuna, Morjim and Arambol coastal areas have been badly eroded. A large number of mature casuarinas trees, coconut plantations and other beach vegetations have been uprooted and washed away. The ingress of the sea is seen in a large number of coastal villages of the state, at one time or the other, in the last one decade or so. Incidentally, NIO Scientists have often pointed that destruction of sand dunes exposes the beach to the threats of more erosion.
At least 25 kms of Goa’s 105 kms. long coastline has suffered the ravages of erosion, the Rajya Sabha was told by the Union Minister of State with Independent charge for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh in his written reply during the ongoing monsoon session in the Parliament. The Minister said that his problem had accelerated over the years, quoting a study conducted by Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune.
Besides, according to Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the State’s coastline has risen by 10 inches over the last decade and that rapid sand erosion as well as coastal inundation is a cause of concern for coastal communities in recent times. Pointing out that the sea level has increased by nearly three millimeters per year – which is twice that of three decades ago – experts have predicted that the coastal state such as Goa will have a tremendous social and economic impact as almost 30 per cent of tourism-related economic activity was vulnerable due to destruction of beaches.
If sand erosion is allowed to go unchecked, it will not only rob the beauty of the beaches, but will also affect the traditional activities of the local people as well as the tourism industry. The Tourism stakeholders and other people, especially the fisherfolk who live along the beaches and carry out their business, will be the worst affected.
The authorities concerned, therefore, need to adopt new comprehensive measures to tackle erosion of the beaches, before Goa’s entire coastline falls to complete devastation.
(The writer is a freelance journalist)
