Littered Colva creek awaits rejuvenation plan

Colva: Despite spending crores of rupees during the past several decades, authorities and successive elected representatives have failed to rejuvenate the Colva creek.

As the peak tourism season draws to a close, the creek is littered with plastic and other waste items.

The creek, that runs between the huge parking space and Colva beach, was once considered a pride.

Last year, soon after the elections, newly-elected Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas undertook an inspection with water resources department (WRD) officials in tow, and issued directions to fence the creek with wire-mesh or net to dissuade people from discarding plastic bottles into it.

Six months later, the initiative has not had the desired effect as the creek is once again being used as a dump.

WRD sources said that elected representatives employ such theatrics to gain publicity without really getting into the nitty-gritties of the works. The idea to cover the creek with wire-mesh or net was first mooted by ex-MLA Churchill Alemao.

Former minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues had sanctioned Rs 9 crore for the development and rejuvenation of Colva creek. A canal has been built through the fields from the Colva main road, where it runs parallel to the sea. But no measures have been taken to deter tourists and locals using it as a convenient dump, while restaurants on its bank discharge sewage.

WRD executive engineer Ankush Gaonkar said the department had drawn up plans to cover the creek, but some locals in the name of environmental activism threatened to approach the National Green Tribunal if the department went ahead with the proposal.

One panch member was also critical of the self-proclaimed activists “who call themselves environmentalists or nature lovers” and object to any development “but will not get their hands dirty to clean the creek”.