CALANGUTE: The beaches of Candolim, Calangute and Baga seem to have developed huge trenches due to the impact of rainwater flowing from the villages to these beaches.
Over ten such trenches were noticed along the entire beach stretch causing inconvenience to tourists and the policemen patrolling along the beaches.
A trench has been welcoming tourists at Calangute beach and that too at the entrance.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Sanjeev Joglekar said, “We were unaware of incident along the beach until it was highlighted by Herald. We have not received any intimation on this and will send our scientist to check the reason behind such occurrence”.
Calangute PI, Jivba Dalvi said these deep trenches have affected police patrolling along these beaches.
“Calangute beach is overcrowded and to make things worse, the washing away of sand at few places has made it difficult for our vehicles to ply along the coastline. We have a total of 60 police personnel posted along the North Goa coastline from Arambol to Panjim. Due to unevenness caused on the beach on account of the flow of rainwater patrolling along this beach stretch has become difficult,” PI Dalvi informed.
Candolim activist Roshan Mathias said these trenches caused due to bad planning along the beaches are a threat to the environment. He feels that after a couple of days these trenches will be filled with sewage water released by the hotels.
“The surface unevenness is due to sewage water disposal through the drains and nullahs. During the other seasons, the hoteliers are forced to get night soil tankers but during the monsoon such incidents can go unnoticed as the hoteliers try to save money by releasing sewage in these trenches,” he alleged.
After bringing the issue to the notice of Calangute panch Sudesh Mayekar, he assured that the panchayat will inspect the site and come out with a solution.
“We will carry out a site inspection as I am unaware of this incident. Later we will sit together along with other panchas and the local MLA and discuss what needs to be done,” Mayekar informed.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a lifeguard on duty said that these trenches have occurred with the arrival of monsoon.
