A self-funded local beach cleaning initiative ‘Baga Beach Cleaning; shows that if there is a will, there indeed is a way
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
Locals in Baga may routinely tune in to BBC for their dose of international news; however, they are completely in tune with their local BBC or Baga Beach Cleaning – an initiative started by concerned tourism stakeholders and citizens in 2008, that is helping Baga’s biggest jewel, its beach, to breathe.
Piles of garbage, shattered liquor bottles strewn on the beach, were eye sores especially when international as well as domestic vacationers would throng in huge numbers during the tourist season. It was then that local businessman Neville Proença thought of this concept that eventually grew into a bigger group to make this mission a success. “I would go to the beach to play football with my kids. It was an unpleasant scene, the beach deteriorating. I came up with the idea and received support from all business owners and local authorities,” he recalled.
Backed by the present TTAG President Advocate Francis Braganca, former TTAG President Ralph D’Souza and the local panchayat, and with consent from the then Tourism secretary Dr M M Modassir, the activity began on a war-footing.
Away from the media glare for seven years, the association members dedicatedly work towards the welfare of Baga. What’s most interesting is that they pay the workers every month from their individual resources.
“Every member donates his/her share that goes to pay salaries of workers, hired to clean the beach and its surrounding. We cannot expect the government to shoulder all the responsibilities. Since tourism has given us so much, we too want to contribute a bit to ensure the tourism sector survives. This is our source of income and we have to safeguard it,” Cajetan Britto, owner of Britto’s Bar & Restaurant, said.
The fruit vendors and beggars are no longer visible in Baga. Proença said the vendors would leave behind garbage that would attract cows to the beach, and their dung would further dirty the beach. There was also a time when the foreign tourists were misled that dipping foot in cow-dung is a blessing, to avoid embarrassment.
“It took us some time to completely clean the beach of this menace. We have four women workers to clean the beach,’ he further said while also repeatedly mentioning the support from all the BBC members. “The entire stretch from Baga creek to Drop Anchor shack is being cleaned by the workers,” added Britto.
Britto went on to add that the group also managed to solve the parking issues and created awareness among everyone on cleanliness in the vicinity. The members recollect that when the campaign began, 29 tractor loads of garbage was collected within 500 meters itself, indicating the huge garbage menace persisting in the area. General Secretary of Shacks Owners Welfare Society, John Lobo, Tito Goes Proença, Marie Larios Shack, taxi driver Chandra are among a few of those who are part of the larger cleanliness group.
At least somewhere in the heap that Baga is, there is a ray of hope, provided by the BBC initiative.
Nobody came to the rescue of locals during the Cong regime
He is the custodian of a beauty that is losing its sheen. Yet Calangute MLA Michael Lobo still strives to make Baga problem-free and tourist-resident friendly. He speaks to the Herald on his efforts to get some shine back to the Baga beach stretch
What are the major problems in Baga?
LOBO: Scarcity of water, load shedding and garbage are major issues plaguing Baga. Goa government needs to study daily requirement of water in Baga because nearly all commercial establishments and the residents are dependent on water tankers. The second biggest problem is load shedding. Power failure is a daily issue. Garbage is yet another challenging task which needs to be tackled on a war footing even though cleanliness is in place to a certain extent.
Don’t you think locals are partly responsible for the menace including garbage with the mushrooming commercial activities?
LOBO: Locals could not look into the fallout as business expanded. Infrastructure is a failure. Nobody came to the rescue of the locals during the Congress regime. Nonetheless, people should have made a noise for a proper garbage dumping site, parking space, illumination of the lanes and by-lanes and other essential requirements. In the last two-and-a-half years, we have managed to solve 50 per cent of the entire infrastructural problems. We need more support from the local community.
What are your future plans for Baga?
LOBO: Illuminating the beach with decorative lamps. We want to make the beach hassle free and tourist friendly. Some domestic tourists create nuisance by staring at foreign tourists and taking photos with them, this needs to be stopped. The law enforcement agencies have to be strict. Trouble makers including those openly consuming alcohol and smoking in public places should be fined. I intend to put up a board of dos and don’ts for the attention of those entering the tourism heaven. Moreover, benches for elderly people along the beach side, building a children’s park and artefacts of traditional fishermen at the entrance of Baga are some more ideas in the pipeline.
