Allegations that Canacona’s beaches have been invaded by outsiders doing business, with locals leasing their property for shacks and hotels to outsiders – Indians and foreigners, are rife.
For the past decade, beaches along Agonda, Palolem, Ouvrem, Patnem, Coloumb and other areas have seen a complete change with tourists playing loud music and bursting crackers at any time of the day and night disturbing the sleep of the locals, Natividade D’Sa, a senior citizen and social worker who is recipient of State awards, said.
Speaking to Herald, D’Sa said his property has been encroached and he is compelled to vacate his dwelling place and is currently staying at Nagarcem, Canacona, a good distance from his property.
Those owning property along the coastline have leased it to outsiders for a hefty sum, people said and those living in the area face a mental trauma due to the high decibel music that starts in the evening and continues till the rising of the sun.
When contacted, Canacona Police Inspector Filomena Costa said he has not received any complaints about loud music. Even if they do receive and book a complaint against the law breakers, he said the police have to check into the sound because as per the law a decibel meter has to be used to gauge the velocity of sound coming out from speakers.
The tourism industry is flourishing in Canacona leading to narrowed roads as vendors and fruit and vegetable sellers squat on the roadside. Zooming vehicles have increased the number of accidents, including fatal ones.
There were allegations that outsiders are doing business on the beaches in Canacona, but Herald found that they were all fluent Konkani speakers and hailed from the villages in the taluka.
That apart there are Kashmiris who operate garment shops along the roads leading to Palolem beach. Locals say they are not doing good business as the rates of the garments are very high.
A taxi driver alleged that the clothes on display are not for sale but allegedly conceal narcotics in the garments and that they are sold only to outsiders.
Locals allege that while tourism has brought in revenue for the land owners who have leased their property, their school going children have fallen prey to the doles given to them and they abstain from classes.
