Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Divar is projected as a must see Island destination mostly amongst the domestic tourists while on their vacation in Goa.
Most of the young couples who are eager to have a glimpse/experience of the so called Divar Island do not observe the COVID-19 protocol in force in the State of Goa as one will find them moving without wearing masks.
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On many occasions, I have seen the islanders who are more concerned for their own safety insisting on the visitors to wear their masks. Even if the islanders remain COVID free, we will still be prone to it for the misbehaviour of the visitors.
Crossing the island by the ferry boat is another pain. Vehicles once boarded are parked randomly as per one’s whims and fancies and time is wasted to rearrange them later. More often than not the rented four wheelers are driven by the tourists themselves who are not used to travel by ferry boats. For them it is mere fun. It is as if the tourists have chartered the ferry boat and the regular commuters from the island are left to fend for themselves especially when they are on their way for work or to attend other important appointments.
The visitors, who frequent the island for pleasure trip, put the natives to inconvenience. A time will come when even a 108 Ambulance will find it difficult to use the ferry before a valuable life is lost for want of timely medical attention.
With basic facilities such as proper roads, street lighting, a resident doctor during the night, etc. remaining a distant dream, the influx of tourists further adds to our lives getting more miserable. Assembly elections are round the corner and there will be promises galore for the posting of a resident doctor during the night. This repeats every five years. My ardent request to the River Navigation Department to introduce higher fares for the two wheelers and four wheelers used by tourists for crossing by ferry boat as it will generate some revenue to the department. It is high time the elected members of Goltim-Navelim and Sao Matias Panchayats come to the rescue of the islanders crossing the ferry points especially during the peak hours so that the facilities of the island population are not usurped.
The queue system needs to be enforced and priority given to the islanders for crossing. Many times, the vehicles are seen jumping the queue, which leads to unnecessary commotion and delay.
And finally, the issue of garbage raises its ugly head. Several parcels of garbage including diapers decently packed in plastic bags are thrown into open fields along the road. Empty liquor bottles and cans on consumption are left in the compound of religious places and parks.
Stray animals have a field day and further contribute in littering all over the place. With no mechanism in place by the local panchayats to monitor this menace, the plight of the Divadkars in the guise of tourism will be definitely felt in the years to come.
