Daijiworld Media Network - Calangute

Calangute, Oct 17: Tourism stakeholders along the Calangute-Candolim beach belt have voiced strong concerns over poor waste management, alleging that the cleaning contractor appointed by the tourism department has failed to collect garbage from the beaches, even as several beach shacks have begun operations for the season.

With the tourism department issuing shack licences from September 1 this year, a few establishments have opened earlier than usual, while most are expected to start around Diwali. However, the absence of regular waste collection has led to mounting garbage near beach access roads.

As a temporary solution, the Calangute panchayat has stepped in to manage the waste. “Beach shacks are leaving their garbage on the nearest road to be collected by our trucks. We’re doing this because we want the beach to remain clean and they’re our people,” said sarpanch Joseph Sequeira, confirming that panchayat garbage trucks are currently handling the collection.

Tourism director Kedar Naik said the issue had not been officially reported to the department. “We have a contractor in place for garbage collection, and no one has raised this issue with us. We have a WhatsApp group with all stakeholders, including shack operators, where concerns are addressed promptly. Since the season has just begun, there are teething issues we are trying to resolve,” Naik stated.

Sources, however, revealed that the ongoing delay in garbage clearance may be linked to the non-availability of a designated dump yard, compounding the problem at the start of the new tourist season.