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----------------------------------------------- Baina beach needs urgent attention ---------------------------------------------- The Baina beach of Vasco needs urgent attention from the state administration. Due to the flesh trade, which stopped after evacuation and demolition of sex cubicles, it was totally neglected by the citizens.
However, post-demolition it is slowly buzzing with people's presence and could be developed as one of the major tourist spots in Goa.Cultural programmes and other social activities were held soon after the evacuation, however, the pace of holding such programmes has slowed down considerably.
The Mormugao Municipality had planned various projects for the upgradation of this beach, but none of those could be materialised due to unstable council.
When this reporter contacted some of the citizens on the beautification issue, they opined that this is possible only with the combined efforts of citizens as well as the concerned authorities.
A senior journalist and an employee of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), Mr Shyam Kaskar stated that the beach has been neglected and needs beautification. He further said that after the demolition of the cubicles the beach was opened for public and some organisations arranged entertainment events. But thereafter it has remained idle most of the time, he added.
Mr Kaskar said the government and the local authorities should motivate the social and cultural organisations to hold entertainment programmes. "If the open area is not developed immediately, again the slums and other illegal structures will come up with the blessings of politicians and nobody will stop them," he observed adding such things happened in the past at Mangor Hill as well as at Baina.
A young businessman, Mr Narayan Surlkar stated, "The Baina beach, our only prized possession was in the clutches of our dreaded politicians and corporators who helped to develop it as a commercial sex centre for vote bank."
"We are thankful for the efforts of social organisations, dynamic citizens, besides the Bombay High Court's Goa bench in particular for its landmark judgment," he added. The beautification of Baina beach will bring in lot of tourists and it will be like a boon to the people of Vasco for their evening walks and their other social gatherings, he said.
The cleaning and beautification process will go a long way in bringing Vasco on the tourist map of India. The people displaced due to this process should be given rightful alternate accommodation or land.
When contacted, Ms Balika Chodankar, a 62-year-old woman from Sasmolem-Baina, said the beach is a must for bathing during the summer as the people get reprieve from certain diseases. She also said that the concerned authorities should take care of the beach. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 28/04/05 page 3 ----------------------------------------------------
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