The government’s much touted promotion of monsoon tourism is just not happening at Colva which is recognised as the prime tourism spot in South Goa. The result there are very few people to see the huge waves crashing on the beach unleashing the monsoon fury.
Most of the hotels, with the exception of Colva Kinara, are practically shut down as they do not have any guests and most hotels are apparently compelled to offer a discounted rate package for group bookings like conferences and meetings.
There are no lamanis seen in Colva, who during the peak tourist season, are seen moving around on the beach selling various things ranging from dupattas to fruits and juices.
Most of the kiosks that were found by the roadside have shut down and those that are operating have skeletal staff or are those that are managed by the family. “We are forced to continue here as otherwise there is a fear that somebody else might take away this spot for the next season,” said one north Indian selling clothes, hats and innerwear.
Reservation of the premises is the reason also cited by some of the persons selling jewellery. Most of the eat outs that were found in Colva are shut down at the moment and it is difficult to even get the staple Goan pav bhaji near the beach.
The yellow and black taxis that ferry passengers from Margao to Colva on shared basis are not seen at all in Colva and only a few tourist taxis can be seen. The taxi owners complain of not getting any business.
The infrastructure is also crumbling with dirt and squalor seen all around the beach. There is absolutely no garbage management done in Colva and plastic bags and other waste can be seen everywhere.
In fact a depression next to a prominent building has been used as a garbage dumping site with dead coconut palm leaves, plastic, thermocol, clothes and all kinds of waste dumped there and with the onset of monsoons water has accumulated making it a prime spot for mosquito breeding.
Some of those involved in the tourism trade revealed plans to call on the newly elected panchayat and impress upon it the need to maintain cleanliness at the place and also to utilise the rickshaw donated to the panchayat to collect garbage.
