PERNEM: The Founder of Goa Foundation, Claude Alvares highlighted that Keri beach stands totally destroyed and at the same time Goans need to stand united and fight against over-tourism before it is too late while addressing the gathering at a World Tourism Day program at Tiracol Fort on Thursday. The event was organized by Centre for Responsible Tourism and the theme was strangulation through over-tourism.
“Keri was known for its beautiful beach and in the Goa State Coastal Zone Management Plan 1996 the whole stretch of this beach was classified as CRZ-I because of its outstanding natural beauty and sand dune area. 500 mts from the high tide line you cannot build any house or structures. After 20 years they have thrown all tetrapods of cements and not looked after this beach responsibly. The water is pulling down these tetrapods and dragging them into the water,” informed Claude.
A total of 12,00,000 square meters of land in Tiracol was sold to a Delhi-based firm which was supposed to come up with a modernized project comprising of a golf course and resort but the people opposed the same as it was not going to benefit the locals.
“Although this land was bought 12 years ago till today barely two building have come up in this entire project.
Most of the beaches and the coastline of Goa has already been destroyed. Sustainable tourism needs to be adopted. The groups in the village need to become strong. They may beat us or put us in jail but we sent on earth not to sleep or run away. We need to stand up and fight against those doing wrong,” appealed Claude.
In Morjim and Mandrem, most of these beaches have shacks, lights and sound and few building are hotels are even being erected next to the high tide line.
The Olive Ridley turtles that have been visiting these beaches for years together are suffering because there is barely any place left and there is too much of light and noise.
“These turtles come and lay their eggs here and as per the Forest and Wildlife Act they have been allotted this place. Their nesting season is from November to March. These are getting extinct due to over-urbanization, light and sound pollution,” told Claude.
While the In-charge of Centre for Responsible Tourism, Fr. Freddy Braganza informed that there a 33 coastal parishes in Goa. “We have tourism monitoring groups and cells at various parishes. Tourism is good but needs to be carried forward responsibly and Goans should benefit from tourism. Stakeholders should be taken into confidence when tourism related schemes are introduced. Our tradition, culture and environment should be safeguarded. In Pernem many locals are into the business of tourism,” he told.
“We should remember the three members who fought for Tiracol; Dominic, Salu and Francis. Pernem is still left while most of the coastal belt across Goa is totally destroyed,” added Fr. Freddy.
