Building boom, major threat to Goa's coastline

Thursday, June 12 1997

Building boom, major threat to Goa's coastline

G R Singbal

PANAJI, June 11: Goa's pristine ecology continues to be gravely threatened due to gross violations of coastal building rules. The once picturesque beach villages of Calangute, Candolim and Baga have been turned into a coastal concrete jungle.

Other beach areas like Arambol, Palolem and Marmal threaten to meet a similar fate. Many people have raised fears that if development continues unchecked at this rate, Goan shores may end up filled with blocks of concrete and nothing else.

The skyline of most Goan beach villages is changing fast with constructions sprouting up every few metres. Not only have beach resorts of all shapes and sizes proliferated but there has been an explosive building boom in these areas with a stampede by buyers from other parts of the country to own holiday homes Goa.

Elsewhere too, the vegetation is being cleared off the hillocks for the purpose of constructing residential complexes and hotels. As the demand for accommodation grows and land prices soar, more buildings come up fighting for space and moving to the fringes with an inadequate infrastructure. Amid this rush for space, not only building regulations and aesthetics are thrown to the winds but even infrastructural problems and public health aspects are being ignored.

Ironically, the town planners involved in the planning processes in early stages of Goa's development are the ones to voice their strongest concerns over this trend recently. Ban on buildings were being ignored and regulations were being flouted freely, charged the planners and architects at a round table discussion on the subject organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The planners' grievance was that the environmental destruction of Goa was taking place with the blessings of ruling politicians and active connivance of the official agencies of the State.

In a strong statement, former Goa Chief Town Planner Dr S P Deshpande said the State's haphazard development was due to corruption in the government. He said bold alternative planning with effective direction was the need of the hour to set things right.

The local press too has from time to time highlighted a havoc the uncontrolled building boom has wreaked in the over-crowded beach villages of Calangute, Candolim and Baga, transforming them beyond recognition.