This is one article I am forced to write with a greatly perturbed mind. It is also a reflection of my frustration at the ever-mounting garbage scattered across Goa's countryside. I have written about this subject before, without any positive results.
I am writing again, clinging to the hope that someone of consequence out there will read this and decide to do something. Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but speaking frankly, what else can I do? This space is the only recourse I have to pour out all my frustrations.
So today, I will talk about a beautiful road I take every day to travel to work that is smeared with mounds of garbage for most of the year. I chose to look the other way for months, but when you have to take the same garbage-laden road over and over again, you cannot ignore the problem.
It starts to weigh on your conscience: "You need to do something about this."
This internal village road starts at Goa Velha, branching off from the old Agassaim to Bambolim highway. After cutting through the old bridge, it passes through Siridao market junction and leads to the Siridao beach.
It continues past Bambolim Beach Resort and the Grand Hyatt, ultimately linking to the Bambolim-Dona Paula bypass at Bambolim.
From the Siridao beach junction to the Bambolim Beach Resort, this road has good tree cover on both sides, running closely alongside the picturesque Siridao-Bambolim coastline.
No sooner one crosses Siridao Beach junction and moves towards Bambolim, human apathy unfolds on the left side of the road, with garbage littered by the roadside. At one particular place, there is a big mound of waste and it is growing by the day.
From Siridao Beach to just before Bambolim Beach Resort, this stretch of the road has become a convenient place for passersby to dump their rubbish and move forward, dirtying someone else's backyard and keeping theirs clean.
Made famous by Instagrammers, many tourists are taking this interior road to visit the Siridao and Bambolim beaches, only to see their journey marred by the sight and stench of garbage that lines this serene stretch.
The other day I saw a young tourist couple walking towards Siridao Beach when I was riding to work on this road. As I crossed them, I saw expression of dismay on their faces. I decided to turn back and talk to them. They happened to be from Delhi.
"This is not what we expected in Goa. We are used to seeing garbage in Delhi, but so much of it in a place like Goa and so close to a beach?" said the young woman with disbelief in her voice. The man chose to stay quiet. I left the place and kept on wondering what image of Goa the couple would take back with them. I am sure, not a very good one!
This garbage-strewn road is sending the wrong signals about Goa, drowning the pristine image presented by the picture-perfect postcards being sold in the shops.
To an extent, I too feel guilty, because through the Gomantak Times digital portal we nudge tourists to visit the Siridao and Bambolim beaches.
We have featured the best images of the two beaches with their unforgettable sunsets, keeping in tune with the mandate to promote the glorious side of tourism. However, it's time now to confront the disgraceful side because the roads to better tourism pass through the less scenic in many places.
The garbage-littered road is not even 500 metres from the Siridao-Pale village panchayat, which seems to be running away from the problem. If not, then it should explain why this particular stretch is always littered with rotting waste.
This garbage-littered road is a collective failure on many levels—from the negligence of individuals to the lack of government intervention. It is time for the panchayat and the village to take ownership of the problem and work together to restore the picture-perfect image of this place. Or else, Goa tourism will be the big loser!