The citizens of Vasco are in a dilemma over the beautification project of the Baina beach. Serious concern is being raised on the beautification project which is planned by the Power Minister Milind Naik who is also Mormugao MLA.
Questions are being raised whether there was a need to beautify the beach stretch, which has been already kept clean for the past several years by Drishti Special Response Services and local bodies through cleanliness drives. The talk of the town is that the local authorities and the State government should give more attention to the remaining stretch which is facing defecation right on the beach, giving a bad signal to the visitors.
It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the Baina beach beautification project, estimated to cost around Rs 2 crore was laid on February 1, 2016 at the hands of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar in the presence of Naik.
“The Baina beach beautification project mainly focused on the portion of the beach, which is already maintained clean. The authorities have claimed that the neglected portion of the beach which is being defecated will be taken up in the second phase. I feel that public fund is being misused by the State government in beautifying the portion of the beach, which could have been taken in second phase and not necessarily on the first phase itself,” said Murari Bandekar, a Councillor representing Baina ward in MMC.
Citizens have also acknowledged the fact that the State government in past made sincere efforts to restore the beach to its glory by removing the infamous sex cubicles at Baina, which have been a blot on the State’s image but during the last 11 years; there were no signs of beautification.
However, after Aquatic Sports, a Mumbai-based company (Drishti Special Response Services) set up their base at the beach, they not only started adventure activity to attract more and more tourists at the beach but also fulfilled citizens’ dream by maintaining the beach front clean throughout the year.
Today, the beach portion, which has been maintained clean, has emerged as one of the venue for religious/cultural and other entertainment events including the famous annual summer festival organized by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC). The citizens give all credit to Aquatic Sports officials having their base at Baina beach for maintaining cleanliness at the portion of beach. However, a sudden storm has started brewing for Drishti at Baina beach. Now, MLA Milind Naik feels that Drishti is causing hindrance along the 800-metre beach stretch, which is to be beautified in the first phase of beautification plan. He therefore has asked the MMC to revoke the no-objection certificate issued if any to Aquatic Sports.
“Leaders should understand the fact that it was only due to the Aquatic Sports officials that the beach stretch today remained clean, besides that it is only due to hard efforts of said company having their lifeguards on the beach, the number of drowning cases at Baina beach has dropped to almost zero today. However, a fraction of political elements is now making efforts to relocate the said company. But who will then ensure the safety of people and cleanliness at the beach? Instead of removing them, the government should make a provision to accommodate Aquatic Sports at Baina beach itself so that even in future the beach is kept clean”, said Nitin Kadam, a local from Vasco.
When Herald contacted Power Minister and Mormugao MLA Milind Naik to seek his reaction on the issue, he claimed that “I understand that the whole Baina beach requires beautification but at one go it is not possible. I have therefore planned the development in phase wise manner and the entire beach would be beautified in future. Also, I am not against Aquatic Sports (Drishti) or their operations but it’s their commercial shed which is coming in the way of beautification project, I have just asked them to shift near Sulabh toilet at Baina. I promise that once we start second phase of Baina Beautification project, we would also take Drishti on-board and draw the plan jointly,” Naik added.
