Goan beaches under threat

Locals allege that Mumbai-based builders who bought the hillock near the Coco beach have mercilessly cut down trees and vegetation. As a result, there is heavy erosion on the beach and the danger that a lot of land can be claimed by the sea.

South Goa’s Betalbatim and Majorda beaches are also facing threat due to erosion. “I have been going to every official for the survival of the beaches for the past two years,” says Minguel Pereira, sarpanch of Betalbatim.

According Goa University scientist Nandkumar Kamat, the reason lies with too much human interference. “Hotels and other business establishments near the beaches have destroyed the sand dunes and lush vegetation that control tidal waves.”

According to him, the Campal jetty and the hotels on the Mandovi banks are going under water in recent times.

Arvind Untawale, scientist and expert on coastal science and mangroves, told this correspondent that 80 per cent of mangroves along the coast of India have been destroyed. Untawale was appointed by UNESCO and UNDP to prepare a report on the destruction of mangroves.

Untawale was again appointed by the Ministry of Environment after the super cyclone to study and suggest remedies on effect of cyclones. “Politicians do not know the importance of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). They have devastated our fragile land by way of diluting laws on the subject. They want to get rid of the mangroves and sand dunes for so called development. Now once again they have raised hue and cry on further diluting the CRZ. Cutting forests of mangroves will further devastate human being,” Untawale said.

In Goa, the human settlement is too close to the shore. Since the beaches are famous for their scenic beauty, tourism development there is affecting the dune system, and any further damage such as cutting of shore will cause disaster by erosion and also further desertification.

Experts have suggested some guidelines for conserving the dune system. Some of them are prohibiting lowering of the dune crest to provide building sites; prohibition of all constructions on the dunes; restriction on construction to areas behind the dune line; where construction exists ensure replanting of de-vegetated area; to provide technical assistance and a convenient source of beach grass planting; and maintaining ground water level to stabilise beach grass.