It must be said that the state is losing large chunks of land every year to the sea as a result of the sand erosion that takes place when the monsoon is active. It is seen that every year at the beaches in several parts of the state which has been experiencing sand-erosion, tetrapods are being used to minimize the effect of the sand-erosion.
Last year Baina beach witnessed a massive sand erosion. It was observed that the water level even touched the retaining wall due to the incessant rains that the state had been experiencing last year. Coconut trees had got uprooted in large numbers. This year the monsoon is not even in it’s first week and massive sand erosion is seen along the one and half kilometer coastline of the Baina beach because of the rough sea conditions which results in massive waves hitting the coastline.
This beach which was a huge attraction for the locals in the yesteryears needs to be saved from further erosion otherwise a time may come that this beautiful beach will be non-existent as has been the case of the Khariawado beach situated in Vasco.
Taking cognizance of the erosion the Water Resource Department had piled up sand-bags on the onset of monsoon last year. It must be said that sand-bags are not very effective in protecting the beaches from erosion. What is necessary is to put up tetrapods along the coastline at Baina which are more effective in preventing sand erosion. Last year tetrapods were placed at some places like Anjuna beach to prevent further erosion of the battered coastline.
It is seen that even the Miramar beach which is a huge tourist attraction had witnessed massive sand erosion in the past which has resulted in the uprooting of several trees along the beach-line. The government needs to take necessary step to arrest further erosion at these famous beaches which attracts huge crowds during the summer season otherwise most of the beaches will suffer vast sand erosion in the ensuing monsoon.
Besides the construction activities going on unabated along the coastline, it is also the global warming which is leading to sand erosion. Government needs to adopt long term preventive measures to arrest sand erosion on the beaches during the monsoon. We need to protect our land from losing it to the sea due to erosion. Land once lost in this manner is lost forever as there is no way such land can be reclaimed.
