PANJIM: A number of beach shacks in the State reported loss owing to the surge in water level since Sunday night. However, despite being festive time, the losses didn’t damp the spirits as the shack operators claimed that it as a normal trend every year.
“It is a common phenomenon during the year-end. There is usually full moon resulting in high tide. However, some shacks did report losses as water entered their structures,” said President of All Goa Traditional Shack Owners Association, Cruz Cardozo while speaking to Herald.
It is learnt that not only the full moon effect but equinox and the tsunami in Indonesia also led to the rise in water level. The shacks at Baga beach reported maximum loss, Cardozo said.
Shack operator Jose D’Souza from Calangute said the beach beds were soaked in water as there was no prior intimation about the rise in water. Another shack operator rued that water entered into the main restaurant area as well as kitchen damaging the electrical appliances.
There were however few parts along the coast, wherein water did not gush towards the shacks.
The Goa Meteorological Centre has warned the fishermen from venturing into the sea for the next five days.
Similar situation was reported last November-December and the beginning of January this year. Unlike during the effects of Cyclone Ockhi when majority shack operators faced huge losses, the surge in water level in January did not affect them much. The Department of Tourism was quick to issue advisory urging stakeholders to be on alert against the tidal surge while the visitors to the beaches were also asked to not venture into the waters.
