COLVA: Rough sea and mighty waves have caused soil erosion in Salcete beaches of Cavelossim, Varca, Benaulim, Sernabatim, Colva and Betalbatim.
Every year the sea seems to be changing its pattern. In 2019 it was Betalbatim and Velsao beaches to be hit badly. Last year it was Benaulim and Cavelossim, while this year it seems that Sernabatim beach has been targeted by the natural forces.
In Sernabatim, during the high tide, the sea water reaches the sand dunes.
Goa seems to be witnessing increasing erosion of its beaches, due to the onslaught of the Arabian sea on the shore.
Changes in sea level, seawater temperature, and other ocean dynamics may change how much the ocean contributes to the erosion of beaches, said an environmental activist.
Large parts of the sandy beaches along the state’s coast are being gobbled up by the tumultuous sea. The fisherfolk and others residing near the beaches, while agreeing that sand erosion is a normal phenomenon are of the opinion that the erosion has been unusually severe for the last few years.
When the tumultuous sea comes against people’s property, the tendency is for them to try and stop the encroaching sea. They armor the shoreline with sandbags, seawalls and jetties. These have a negative effect on beaches because once sea water reaches them, it “bounces” off them with more energy than a wave washing back off a normal sand beach. More sand is carried off shore, promoting beach loss, a scientist quipped.
The ingress of the sea is seen on a number of coastal villages along the Salcete coastal belt during different seasons, in the last few years.
Sand dune vegetation on a part of the beach has been washed away by the raging waves.
A large number of casuarinas, palm trees and other beach foliage or vegetation have been uprooted and washed away.
