Team Herald
MARGAO: Once a favoured spot for locals and tourists alike, Betalbatim Beach in Salcete is now reeling under a mounting garbage crisis, raising serious concerns about public health, tourism, and civic responsibility.
A large stretch of the beach is strewn with waste—plastic, paper plates, cups, food scraps, diapers and other debris—transforming the once-pristine shore into an eyesore. The situation only came to light after alarmed villagers spoke out, prompting the Betalbatim Village Panchayat to scramble into damage control mode.
At the heart of the issue is a glaring lack of clarity over who is responsible for beach upkeep—the panchayat or the Tourism Department—leaving a vital public space neglected.
Panchayat members pointed fingers at the Tourism Department’s newly appointed contractor, who has failed to install even basic dustbins on the beach. With no proper waste disposal infrastructure in place, visitors are left with little option but to litter, compounding the problem.
However, even in the few spots near the beach where there are dumpsters for visitors to leave their trash, the dustbins are not used - they are often seen tipped over, surrounded by piles of
gabage
Despite workers being deployed by the contractor, clean-up efforts have been half-hearted. Several areas just 100 metres from the waterline remain untouched, with garbage piling up daily. Locals say the workers are visible but ineffective, focusing on limited zones while ignoring the worst-hit parts.
“The condition is disgraceful,” said Franklin Fernandes, a Betalbatim resident. “If tourists see the beach like this, they’ll never return. It’s embarrassing.”
He added that during a recent gram sabha, the panchayat had proposed stationing security personnel to monitor picnickers and ensure they clean up after themselves, but no such system has been implemented yet.
Deputy Sarpanch Ilma Dias confirmed that the panchayat had launched a clean-up initiative. However, she admitted that the high weekend footfall has made it nearly impossible to keep up with the waste generation.
To address the problem long-term, the panchayat is considering imposing a fee on picnickers, with the funds earmarked for regular cleaning, dustbin installation, and improved waste
management.