Sand erosion exposes discarded shack bldg material at Benaulim

Pic: Nisser Dias (Benaulim_beach_underbelly.jpg in NG 3)

Colva: In South Goa, the annual phenomenon of sand erosion witnessed along Goa’s coastline has laid bare the blatant violations by shack owners. The eroding sand has exposed construction materials like laterite stones, slabs of ‘kadappa’ among others, whose use is banned in the setting up of temporary shack structures.

According to the tourism shack policy, shack owners have to dismantle all structures set up by the during season and restore the beach to its original condition. The same policy mandates that stake holders not use cement while raising their temporary structures.

But the construction material that has surfaced along beaches in South Goa, like in Benaulim, shows that the shackowners have blatantly violated the policy’s norms, which the tourism department has failed to notice, sources said.

At the Benaulim beach, laterite stones with cement, flooring tiles and even slabs of ‘kadappa’ stones have been found embedded in the sand along with cement bags filled with sand, and plastic material.

A tourism official when shown photographs of the construction material and questioned about it said he would refer the matter to coastal authorities.

Local MLA Churchill Alemao when appraised of the situation said he would personally visit the place to get a first hand idea to raise the issue in the ongoing assembly session.