Goa, renowned for its pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and rich heritage, is grappling with a silent menace that has crept into its landscape – billboards. The High Court’s directive to disconnect electricity connections of 21 illegal hoardings on the Betim side river bank is a significant move towards reclaiming Goa’s visual integrity.
The involvement of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights signals a broader issue at hand. The impact of billboards on children, both in terms of visual pollution and exposure to potentially harmful content, raises serious concerns. Moreover, the intrusion of these billboards on riverbanks and heritage areas poses a direct threat to the state’s delicate ecosystem and architectural heritage.
The Court’s order, coupled with the GSCPCR’s suo moto cognizance of pan masala billboards along the River Mandovi, underscores the need for stringent action against this blatant disregard for legal and environmental norms.
Goa’s charm lies not only in its natural beauty but also in its well-preserved heritage buildings and unique architecture. The unfettered proliferation of billboards, however, has led to the desecration of the outer facades of old shops and heritage structures. This rampant defacement tarnishes the very essence of Goa’s identity, as its historical charm gets overshadowed by commercial clutter.
