After a stint in the armed forces I returned to Goa and decided to visit Hollant, a favorite holiday beach destination in Vasco. I was dismayed on seeing that the entire beach front, which is a shady orchard, was littered with garbage – paper plates, bottles, plastic bags, broken glass etc.
Further, the orchard wall fronting the beach was washed away over a stretch of about 20 metres, exposing the roots of coconut trees to erosion and further collapse in the monsoons.
We tried to do our bit by clearing away the litter in our picnic area but were hampered by the absence of any suitable bins to dispose into the broken glass lying dangerously all around.
We then took it upon ourselves to speak to three surrounding tourist groups and were able to direct them to avoid littering.
I feel that we Goans need to stand up and be accounted in preventing the degradation of our “Golden Goa”. We can participate in the nationwide cleanliness campaign or in any other way.
We need to convince ourselves and our visitors that our beaches, forests, lakes are a public amenity for the enjoyment of all.
Leaving behind garbage, endangering life/limb with broken glass bottles results in a direct loss to our community. We need to respect the outdoors as we do our own homes and courtyards – bringing the chaos of tourism nowadays into a sustainable mode.
We shall then ensure that Goa passes safe into the hand of future generations.
