Gearing to welcome tourists for the coming tourist season, Goa Tourism on Monday started a comprehensive beach-cleaning drive along the coast.
The 30-day drive aims to rid Goa’s pristine beaches of garbage, litter and remnants of tar-ball menace.
“We have contracted two agencies to cater to the cleanliness of north and south Goa beaches. The initial work of placement of dustbins, building of compost pits, recruitment of manpower and purchasing vehicles is under way,” Pamela Mascarenhas, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism told The Hindu on Monday.
Goa has a 106-km coastline dotted with big and small beaches. Many of the beaches get tar balls during the monsoon.
With the number of tourists visiting Goa on the rise — nearly 3 million according to the State Tourism Department — there is concern about cleanliness, said Goa hoteliers and travel agencies led by Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar recently said environmental groups had questioned the government’s plans to introduce mechanised cleaning. They were concerned that it might result in destruction of flora and fauna on the coastal belt. He had said all the beaches visited by tourists would be cleaned. Initially, the cleaning would be done manually, and gradually, machines would be used to pick up rags.
Pressed by the stakeholders of tourism to act, Goa Tourism has taken the matter seriously, concede officials in the Tourism Department.
Explaining the process of beach cleaning Ms. Mascarenhas said waste from the bins placed on the beaches will be collected daily, in addition to combing wet and dry sand.
Special arrangements will be made when there are events such as Ganesh immersion, Durga celebrations, beach weddings and film shootings to ensure complete cleanliness of the beach within 24 hours of the event.
The project will also ensure beaches are free of floating and other waste from tidal springs.
“This will be an integrated system comprising cleaning of beaches using manual means wherever necessary; giving utmost priority to environment protection; and pollution control of sand and water,” said Ms. Mascarenhas.
Bhumika Transport, waste handling services, a Mumbai-led consortium, will manage the north Goa stretch which includes Keri, Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Ozrant,Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim and Miramar, whereas Ram Engineering and Construction Company, will manage the south Goa stretch, which includes Majorda, Baina, Bogmolo,Velsao, Arrosim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim and Colva.
