THOMAS FERNANDES
CALANGUTE
While the IRB police have begun a drive to stop tourists from taking bottles and cans to the Calangute beach, another threat has been striking fear in an adjacent beach along the Calangute coast.
Broken glass bottles in the area close to the fence of St Xavier’s Retreat Centre at Baga is now causing all sorts of problems to locals, fishermen, tourists and other visitors.
What has angered the locals is that despite warning people to keep the area clean, all such cautions have been discarded with disdain.
The revellers who drink on the beach have become habituated to breaking glass bottles on the rocks at Baga beach. Locals have claimed that broken glass bottle pieces have injured many fishermen who venture into the sea, community members, as well as locals and tourists who visit the area.
Arpora-Nagoa Deputy Sarpanch and local Panch Cleophas Fernandes said he had taken up the matter with the Anjuna police.“But the police too are helpless in the matter,” said Fernandes.
“The youth from different parts of Goa come to this place with beer bottles and once they are drunk, these hooligans just fling the empty bottles everywhere. Many bottles are also broken and dumped near the fence of St Xavier’s Retreat Centre and the Holy Cross Chapel.”
“At times, the beer bottles are flung on the rocks without realizing that the glass pieces will hurt people, either while fishing, swimming or even walking in the water. We have been stopping the youth from indulging in such madness, but the menace continues unabated.”
“The Arpora-Nagoa panchayat has brought these ugly incidents to the notice of Anjuna Police for a permanent solution,” said Fernandes.
The deputy sarpanch feared that the miscreants had ruined the beauty of the once popular spot.
“There are people coming from different parts of Goa and many people would come to the place to enjoy nature. It is a beautiful spot in Baga and even we locals want to spend our evening time sitting and chatting. But the broken bottles and other mess around do not allow us to come even close to the site. We long for a lasting solution to have a peaceful time on our beach,” Fernandes added.
Stating that he was aware of the problem, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said: “It is a disturbing sign that our Goan youth are indulging in such acts which can cause injuries to fellow Goans like the fisherman, local and even tourists.”
“The youth may come to enjoy and have fun, but they cannot indulge in activities which could cause harm to others. Broken glass pieces could cause grievous injuries and this should be stopped immediately. I will take up the matter with our government and arrange to have policemen keeping a watch on such unruly acts at the site and on the rocks at Baga,” said the MLA.
