
Huge deposits invade Colva-Sernabatim stretch in Goa
An oil spill scare hit Salcete’s coastal belt on Monday evening as huge deposits of oil substance invaded the Colva-Sernabatim stretch of the coastline, posing nuisance to visitors and tourists alike.
Tar balls were also seen in small amounts at Baina, Velsao, Arrosim and Calangute shores on Monday.
Locals informed that the oily substance was washed ashore around noon, with the beach stretch playing host to a thick black layer of the oily substance.
The Sernabatim stretch of the coastline was the worst hit, with huge deposits of the oily substance resting on the sandy beach.
Till Monday evening, there was no sign of any official from any government agency or the local panchayat body making their presence felt at the beach.
The absence of any official and the repeated presence of tar balls on the beach have irked local activists who have demanded the intervention of the government to stop the menace. “It is high time the government takes up with the concerned agencies to ensure that ships stop discharging oil in the high seas”, remarked social activist, Judith Almeida.
She said that erring ships cannot be allowed to pollute the environment and damage the ecology, saying that it’s high time that the State government takes up the case with the concerned agencies. “The Tourism Minister should take this matter very seriously. Few days ago, Calangute beach bore the brunt of the tar balls. If this phenomenon goes unchecked, it will leave the ecosystem disturbed”, Almeida said.
That visitors were caught up with the tar balls was evident from the fact that the oily substance found its way right on the culverts over the creek.
A local resident Rosario said many tourists and visitors began withdrawing from the beach after the oily substance was washed ashore since 2 pm.
According to Drishti Special Response Service lifeguards, small amounts of oily substance like tar balls appeared on Baina, Arossim and Velsao beaches on Monday at about 4.30 pm.
The oily substance gradually surfaced on the beach, but the amount is very less comparatively to the beaches at Colva, Betalbatim and Benaulim.
Though Bogmalo Beach has not witnessed tar balls as of now, but in April, the entire stretch of beach turned dark due to the appearance of tar balls on the beach.
Presence of tar balls might not raise an alarm in the tourism department as the beaches have been closed for swimming in the wake of monsoon. The ban would be lifted probably in the first week of October, depending on the sea condition.
Tar balls were seen on Candolim shores in close vicinity of the stranded ‘River Princess’ on Monday afternoon.
According to sources, the tar balls were seen in large numbers on the Candolim shores as the area looked untidy.
Dhristi personnel confirmed that tar balls were seen in the area, but failed to provide any further details.
It may be recalled that tar balls were sighted at many beaches in the State barely three months ago.
On May 20, tar balls were found along the Nuem beach at Khola-Canacona. Four days later, small tar balls appeared over a long stretch at the Candolim beach, near the site of the grounded ‘River Princess’.
On May 27, tar balls mixed with an oily residue appeared over a 500-metre stretch of southern side of Agonda beach.
[Source]