Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Calangute villagers collected large quantities of garbage from the beach on Friday and lashed out at the Tourism Department for failing to keep the coastline of the ‘Queen of Beaches’ clean/
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“We have been highlighting on and against that the beach promenade is very dirty and have written on several occasions to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Tourism Department, emphasising that the Christmas and New Year seasons are approaching. The festive season is just round the corner and the authorities should wake up from slumber atleast during this time. Hordes of tourists descend on Calangute beach and we need to welcome them. Despite repeated appeals, the government has not taken action and looks like they have abandoned the coast,” said Manuel Cardozo, a local tourism stakeholder.
Anthony D’Souza, another resident, echoed these sentiments. “ No visit to Goa is complete without a stop at Calangute. Since there has been no response from the government, we have taken the initiative to clean the promenade ourselves, ensuring that tourists leave with good memories,” he said.
Criticising the tourism authorities, D’Souza remarked, “The Tourism Department and GTDC officials, along with the tourism minister, often travel abroad claiming they are working to attract tourists. If they truly want tourists, they should ensure that the beach is clean.”
Another local commented on the broader challenges faced in the area: “We, the people of Calangute, want to keep our surroundings clean so that visitors find the area appealing. Many vendors sell tea, coffee, and soft drinks here, which tourists purchase and then dispose of the waste anywhere because there are no dustbins available.”
The locals further questioned the role of the contractor responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the area. “Tourism has to prosper. We don’t understand why this beach is not being properly maintained. The tourism department pays a contractor for this purpose. Why is the contractor not doing their job?” they asked.
The initiative undertaken by the residents has drawn attention to the urgent need for government intervention in maintaining the state’s most iconic beach.
