MARGAO: Stating that the tarballs are affecting marine life, Congress Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Saturday urged the government to take up the issue seriously as it will have repercussions on Goa’s tourism industry in future.
In the letter to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, he requested him to take up the issue with the Centre especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reginaldo said following the recent presence of tarballs on beaches in North Goa and South Goa, Goans in large number including the fishermen, beach lovers, tourism stakeholders etc., have requested him to appeal to the government to rid Goa’s beaches of the black sticky oily substance. “It is given to understand that every year between May and October tarballs emerge from the churning of currents on the high seas and consequently pollute the water and the beach setting,” he said.
He said almost all beaches in Goa including the popular ones Anjuna, Morjim, Mandrem, Colva, Benaulim and Velsao turn black with the sticky oily substance.
According to the MLA, these tarballs are a bane to Goa and Goenkars and besides ruining marine life, they are also carcinogenic in nature as they comprise metals, hydrocarbons, etc. Walking on the affected beach/es becomes a challenge to both the locals and tourists as tarballs get stuck beneath their bare feet.
