A TALE OF TWO BEACHES

Hollant Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Goa, which attracts a huge crowd of visitors, especially the locals. Located within a shallow bay that has gentle slope towards the sea and very less underwater current flowing, the Hollant Beach is considered as one of the safest beaches in Goa for swimming. 

Located to the south of Bogmalo beach, the Hollant beach, which is 7 kms from the Vasco town, has been attracting less number of tourists due to lack of infrastructure. 

“Located barely a few kilometres from the Dabolim Airport, this beach offers a beautiful view encompassing the main southern beaches of Goa, along with the foothill of the Western Ghats. Besides the historical chapel and Portuguese era fort wall, the place today has all the potential to become one of the major tourist hotspots but who cares,” complained Kishori Kumbhar, a local tourist, who visits Hollant beach every Sunday. 

Lawrence Fernandes, former panch member from Hollant, who also runs a restaurant close to the beach, claimed that during Portuguese era, Hollant was having its own importance as the village, which was used as military hub by the Portuguese. 

“My elders told me that during Portuguese rule, the village had a population of over 15,000 and since it was used as military hub by the Portuguese, there was a police outpost, a Customs outpost and a jail. The beach also offers a clear view of main southern beaches of Goa and hence the Portuguese had constructed a fort wall to keep vigil on the all the movement of ships close to South Goa beaches and to defend any sea attack. But despite having so much historical importance, today, one can find only the ruins of the fort with hardly anyone knowing the importance of the fort wall,” he added. Like Lawrence even other senior citizens in the village and present local leaders know about the historical importance of the Hollant beach and call it as one of the hidden gems of Goa. 

“This beach is very clean and not very popular, so it is less crowded.  The shallow water draft of this beach makes it safe for swimming. There is a small path from the beach that will take you to the nearby Cansaulim beach. As far as I know, our MLA Alina Saldanha had taken up the fort issue and hopefully the fort would be restored sooner or later. But our biggest worry is garbage and lack of facilities at the beach. Though local tourists and picnickers visit the beach on holidays, it lacks a changing room or a toilet facility. The beach is an eyesore as one finds people defecating in open or behind bushes,” complained a local resident.

At present, a private property on the northern side of the beach is used by the locals and picnickers. But after the picnic is over, they leave behind their garbage and each passing week the dump here has been increasing and this has irked the villagers. 

“I feel that the private property owner is kind enough to allow people to picnic in his property, but people should also respond in the same manner and should not litter their garbage in his property. Similarly, the beach lacks touristic facilities and if the same is made available then this beach has all potential to become one of the famous tourist hotspot,” said Nandita Dayal, a panch. 

Herald investigation revealed that as part of coastal connectivity project, the state government has already proposed for a road all along the hill connecting Dabolim via Hollant beach from Velsao beach side. However, due to pending environmental clearance, the project, which has been completed till Dando in Velsao could not be completed. If this project becomes reality then the beach would have another access and hence it is important that the Tourism Dept give attention to beach by providing required amenities.  

Palolem Beach, regarded as one of Canacona taluka’s famous beaches, is losing its charm and beauty due to alleged illegal constructions and nudism as the concerned authorities have failed to take concrete action despite complaints from prominent residents of the taluka.

Local environmentalist in Canacona taluka have also called upon the concerned authorities to take immediate action regarding the alleged illegal constructions that are flourishing around the coastal belt of the taluka by violating CRZ rules and regulations but all their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

Speaking to Herald,  Pratik Karmali, Canacona Block Development officer (BDO) said that  his office recently had issued a memorandum to the Agonda village panchayat secretary over an allegation that the local body had failed to follow GCZMA order to remove/dismantle structures falling in CRZ areas of Agonda Panchayat during the last season.

Karmali further said the panchayat has been given seven days time to submit the report on the illegal construction and other constructions coming under CRZ areas.

Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Officer Kedar Naik had served a notice to the owner of the hotel under construction at Palolem for illegally cutting around 25 coconut trees without taking permission from Agricultural Department.

When the construction licence was issued the chief officer had clearly mentioned that permission to cut the trees should be taken from the competent authority before commencing the construction work.

“Illegal constructions have been mushrooming in the Canacona municipal areas and the concerned officers have failed to act despite written complaints,” informed Dayanand Pagui, former CMC chairperson and present councillor of Palolem ward.

Speaking to Herald, Pagui said, “The hotel construction work is going on in full swing near Palolem beach by cutting down age-old coconut trees, without any proper documentation and there has been large-scale destruction on the Konko Island as “permanent” huts have been constructed with the blessing of politicians and the concerned officers have failed to take any action against them.”

It is alleged that illegal kiosks on the either side of the Palolem beach have blocked the access to the beach as some owners have extended their construction up to the main road.

The concerned authorities have been asked to take immediate action against the same. 

According to sources in Palolem and Patnem-Colomb, late night parties are allegedly being organised every alternate night along the beaches, by foreigners with the help of the local businessmen, and despite providing information about the same, the local policemen have failed to take action.

Sources further alleged that 40 per cent of the restaurants in the coastal areas of Canacona municipality are illegal and most of them are run by foreigners.

Some of the locals also alleged that these foreigners are involved in the sale of drugs with the help of lamanis, Kashmiris and Nepalese.

Many of the locals complained that Palolem, Agonda and Galgibag beaches in the taluka are losing their beauty and appeal due to illegal construction, nudity, harassment of the tourists by lamanis and drowning cases.

Pagui further alleged that most illegal constructions are carried out by the hoteliers and shopkeepers, besides kiosk owners, who widen their premises by constructing permanent structures thereby violating CRZ rules and regulations.

In order to install and dismantle shacks, tent and huts the sand dunes are destroyed and levelled to the ground, besides sand extraction is common since the last many years, Pagui charged.

On Wednesday, Pagui submitted another memorandum to the concerned authorities, including chief officer and deputy collector  to take action on these illegal constructions at Konko island. Residents of coastal areas have complained that due to sand extraction, residential houses along the coast are being exposed to strong winds and waves as they face a threat of being washed away in the near future.