Vanishing Beaches and coastline

Baywatchers will become extinct breed of professionals who are meant to rescue the drowing tourists or swimmers. The increasing trend of receeding shore line of beach sand dunes will drive away tourists from most of the destination including Goa, Puri, Fort Kochi, Bekal, etc.

A huge managenese & iron ore transporting ship River Princes grounded on the shores of Goa is blamed to have caused erosion of beaches, by interfering in the continental drift and sand movement patterns on calangute and anjuna beaches, including Fort Aguada beach. The ship which belongs to powerful mangnate Salgoankars have gone to court to stay any attempt to remove the ship from its temporary berth. Just imagine a 787 feet ship beached ironically off the north Goa sea coast in June 2000 can wreck such havoc on the shoreline of Goa.

Enviromentalists are predicting further disaster on T.N, Orissa and Andhra belt with huge exploitation of coastal zones. The number of Ports being commissioned in orissa is astounding nos, which is a blatant disregard for the bays. Erosion by itself would not been a matter of concern but for its harmful effects. It is predicted that coastal land will be innudated by salt water, rendering land non cultivatable. The ground water could become salty if the sand dune cover is eroded.

Paulose, Mazhar, Azam and myself are living proof of savouring good drinking water in the middle of Marina beach. The water scooped out of the rich sand dune was surprisingly potable and an unique experience. This conclusive proves the importance of sand dune cover on the beaches.

Tourism will take a major hit if the sand dunes start vanishing from the Shoreline. Goa has been depending on the tourism for employment and revenue. A comprehensive study on the sand mining on the banks of river for construction can be another major cause for disappearing Sand dunes. Increased construction of resorts, construction of roads on the shoreline, Increased dumping of sewage, Shipping activity near the ports, Dredging, etc have all wrecked havoc.

I shudder the day when the virgin beaches of Konkan coast will vanish, the only way to save these shore lines is to undertake a scientific study to stop the erosion. An urgent need is felt after an NDTV report on vanishing coastline of India. Will there be seperate ministry be empowered to look into the matter.

If we fail to resurrect the coastline with more mangroves and other protective barriers, the future generation will be tormented without any beach for entertainment. Bikni clad sun tanners too might become extinct breed along with turtles.