Shantaram seeks Central help
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, AUG 31
Raja Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has appealed to the Union Minister of Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh to send a team of experts to Goa to examine the causes which lead to the collection of tar balls on Goa sea coast every year and the steps to be taken to prevent such occurrences.
In a letter sent to the Ramesh today, Naik referring to the nuisance caused by tar balls on the Goa coast on Monday said that the tar balls have marred the beauty of South Goa coastline from Sernabatim to Betalbatim.
General impression is that this is an annual feature, and that, every year the tourism department has to clean up the affected beaches and that is all, Naik says in his letter.
Naik says that, one fact is apparently clear that it is the passing ships along the coastline which are the culprits.
They discharge their waste which either surfaces before being deposited in the sea bed or waste gets erupted in monsoon due the act of nature, Naik says.
The question needs to be examined that whether the Captains of the ships concerned can flout the rules and cause damage to the coastlines of the countries they pass bye, in a fragrant manner, Naik said in his letter.
There must be international conventions to regulate such behaviours which, India has to invoke, Naik said in his letter
“We have also to find out whether there is any mischief involved in causing damage to an internationally known tourist destination,” Naik adds.
An effort should also be made to identify the ships which discharge their waste into the sea by following the procedure otherwise than that would violate the environmental and other laws, Naik said in his letter.
Shantaram seeks Central help
PANJIM, AUG 31 Raja Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has appealed to the Union Minister of Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh to send a team of experts to Goa to examine the causes which lead to the collection of tar balls on Goa sea coast every year and the steps to be taken to prevent such occurrences.
