Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa

“The authorities are turning a blind eye… This seems to be an annual phenomena destroying our coast !”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tar-balls-surface-at-Cansaulim/articleshow/52333554.cms

The choppy sea conditions have delivered another seasonal horror. Tar balls have surfaced in some coastal areas, especially Velsao, Cansaulim, Arossim and Cavelossim on Wednesday and tourism stakeholders expect the full impact may be felt in the next few days.

The black streaks of darkish oily material start smearing the sandy white beaches around May due to the violent churning action in the sea.

While the grounded pontoon at Arossim beach is itself an eyesore, the disappointed fishermen and tourism stakeholders in the area had another cause for heartburn.

“Tar balls started surfacing here on Wednesday and the oily matter has spread on Arossim beach,” a fisherman said. The wave action gains momentum in May and the force of the waves carries the oily matter towards the shore, as the wind speed accelerates.

Velsao and Cavelossim beaches on the extreme ends of the 20-odd km long Salcete coastline have been quite vulnerable to the messy oily patches in the past.

Tar balls have also been seen in Velsao on Wednesday and to a lesser extent in Cavelossim, sources said. Weathering processes over a period of time eventually create a tarball that is hard and crusty on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. Winds and waves tear the slick into smaller patches that are scattered over a much wider area, states a paper on tar balls on national institute of oceanography (NIO) website.

In addition to impacts on tourism activities, the deposition of oily matter affects benthic life on the beach. Bivalves and shell fish live in the burrows of the top layer. “The carpet of oil chokes them and other organisms, which are the food of other fishes,” says Shakuntala Mesquita, a Colva resident. Mesquita had studied the subject for a thesis in marine sciences.

“There should be a quick response system to clean the beaches after tar balls surface on the coastline. Otherwise, we will face disaster in future if infrastructure to tackle these problems is not improved,” Cruz Cardozo, president of shack owners welfare society said.

“For how long can we allow this government to ignore the warnings that stare us right in the face?”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Coastal-Goa-has-peaked-and-is-going-downwards/articleshow/52300684.cms

Tell-tale signs of a degrading coastal belt has been there for a while, but Goa tourism ignored them as it focused on increasing tourism footfalls.

Module 2 of Goa tourism’s master plan warns about damage to the coastal belt of the state.

A 25-year-vision document is yet to be finalized, but module 2, which was discussed recently, pointed out that North Goa beaches across Bardez and parts of Pernem and Tiswadi are seeing mass tourism with scant regard for environmental conservation. Despite reaching maturity on the tourism life cycle, coastal Goa is experiencing uncontrolled mass tourism and remains unimaginative.

The module 2 specifically highlighted that sites known for turtle nesting are seeing a diminishing headcount. Waste management, fire safety, noise and soil pollution are key issues plaguing these beach stretches.

An official, who was part of the discussion on the master plan, said this should be an eye-opener for the tourism department and the government, that has remained indifferent to the ecology of the coastal belt.

Besides, waste management and cleanliness, the two important aspects, he said has been ignored by the government.

“Though the government has been spending crores of rupees on waste management, it can’t be said the job is being done thoroughly. The coastal belt of North Goa is congested and filthy when compared to some years ago,” he said.

“Calangute beach is the prime example of what uncontrolled mass tourism can do to any tourist spot. Calangute panchayat though has woken up, but, the damage is already done,” said the official.

The module 2 has suggested that pristine beaches in certain talukas have to be protected from high pressure in terms of possible development through ultra-luxury offerings. Some beaches have to be partially preserved to maintain the existing marine ecosystem such as turtle-nesting sites.

Goa needs to understand that in response to changing travel trends, coastal destinations which diversify their supply and integrate it with their inland areas display increased resilience to competition, and are more likely to succeed sustainably. And mass tourism, if not properly managed, destroys attractiveness, observed Module 2.

It suggested that in order to improve the most developed coastal areas of Goa, efforts need to be taken to upgrade and organize the existing product and enhance the tourist experience.

In less developed areas, the quality of tourist accommodation, facilities and activities should be upgraded and developed to provide a better visitor experience, it says.

“Its very easy for Caitu to pass the buck on to Parulekar. He should also be asked as to what he tried to do while Parulekar played around ? Not to say that Parulekar is good!”