Goa Clean-up Drive

"Govt needs to clean-up Goa to improve Tourism ": was the view of the president of the Tourism & Travel Association of Goa, Ralphe de Sousa.

Does the 'Government' come to clean your home? What have YOU done to ensure cleanliness and hygeine? Has the 'Government' littered the beaches, temples, churches, forts and other places in Goa? Is the Government solely responsible for all the social and environmental anarchy today?

When Margaret Mascarenhas anchored the "Clean Goa Initiative meet " in 2005, she said "We want to try to find a common platform between government, the tourism industry, and private citizens". Patricia Pinto spoke about sustainable waste in Panjim related to the IFFI. The Sarpanch of Colvale, Neelkanth Haldankar, who described waste issues confronted by villages and recommended the use of bins in schools. Sanjit Rodrigues, the then Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panjim addressed civic responsibility and slammed Panjim residents for being lazy about segregation and reducing their use of plastics. Wendell Rodricks, who was credited with kick-starting the initiative, gave a forceful call to the public and the government to step up to the plate to preserve Goa's beauty and environment. Dr Cajetan Fernandes, representing the people of Curca said he was sympathetic to the dilemma of Panjim, but warned that the Curca dump was overflowing, and that Curca would not permit any more trucks to dump in the area.

John Lobo, running the Goodluck beach cafe at Baga beach for the last 30 years said "Govt needs to ensure Goa is cleared of the garbage and that there would be law enforcement authority to put people behind bars if they throw garbage around. Or else, Goa is finished". A little harsh but important point.

The Govt should do more to ensure no hawker zones at tourist places as well as unwanted elements like litterbugs, drug dealers, sex workers, drunk tourists, nudists & murderers/molesters. "Tourism in Goa of late is getting a bad name with Goa slowly emerging as a drug and sex destination" GCCI president Cesar Menezes said.

Much has been said and done to highlight the severity of the garbage crisis in Goa, to understand the issues involved and to seek solutions. The lack of waste management infrastructure is our main cause. I reside in Porvorim, in an area called Kalanagar, surrounded by the Govt quarters and there must be at least 3-4 waste bins in the 200mt radius which are not properly used by the residents. Yes the Govt needs to ensure these are emptied so that littering doesn't further happen. The Govt is complacent in finding a solution to this rising issue. It appears, that Goans will have to wait for an epidemic to break, for the Govt to realise--guess it would be too late then. Very soon, we would have the characteristic stench and stink of garbage mounds as seen in Metros.

Excessive mining has destroyed Goa where only the mine owners have made a quick buck and have been responsible for loss of many lives. They have turned a blind eye to health hazards, forest cover, ecology of Goa--in short they are RAPING us as well!!! Property developers have marketed Goa nationally as well as internationally and with the real estate booming, made some fast cash. The day is not far, when Goa will become a concrete jungle like Delhi and Mumbai with the number of people buying homes in Goa as investment.

On the occasion of the 40th World Earth Day, the students of the European International School of Goa are initiating a beach cleaning campaign on 23rd April 2010 at Baga / Calangute beach locations, to help spread the awareness and the importance of pollution control. For more information regarding participation or sponsorship please contact : +91 832 651 7291 / 950 364 1111

Goa has the prerequisites for a model state-low density population, educated residents. We need to accept the principles of environmental governance.The way Goa is developing, soon it will not be able to sustain and therefore erode the quality of life. Jaago re..Recycle. Reuse. Reduce.