BEYOND THE BEACH CLEAN-UP

What Will Really Save Goa's Coastline?

- Gauri Ghadge

Goa's beaches have long been symbols of beauty and freedom: sun, sand, and the shimmering Arabian Sea. Yet beneath the postcard images lies a coastline in crisis. Each weekend, well-meaning volunteers don gloves and carry bags to sweep plastic from the sands. These clean-ups, while commendable, are only cosmetic. The truth is that litter is not what is eroding Goa's shores, endangering turtles, or poisoning nearshore waters. What really matters are deeper structural challenges: unchecked erosion, disappearing dunes, untreated sewage, illegal sand mining, and inconsistent enforcement of coastal rules.

If Goa is serious about saving its coast, it must move beyond photo opportunities and tackle these complex, systemic problems.

THE CRISIS OF EROSION

Scientific assessments show that Goa is losing ground, literally. A national shoreline study (1990-2016) found about 12% of Goa's coastline eroding. Updated assessments (1990-2018) placed this at 19%, and more recent reviews note that around 25% of stretches are critically eroding. Reports suggest that in some stretches, particularly in North Goa, more than a quarter of beaches are severely eroded. Erosion is driven by unregulated construction along the coast, sand mining in rivers, dredging, and climaterelated sea-level rise.

When waves eat into the beach, temporary clean-ups offer no solution. What Goa needs is a comprehensive shoreline management plan based on sand budgets and scientific mapping. Without this, stretches of once- famous beaches may vanish within a decade.

SAND DUNES: NATURE'S FIRST DEFENCE

Sand dunes are not decorative hills of sand; they are living barriers. They store sediment, absorb storm surges, and protect inland areas from flooding. Recognising their importance, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management was asked to map Goa's dunes.