Facelift of two popular Goa beaches to cost Rs.10 crore

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Panaji, March 22: Giving a facelift to two of Goa’s most popular beaches will cost more than Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million), says a report.

In the Economic Survey report tabled by the Goa government during the budget session of the assembly says the central government has earmarked Rs.7.58 crore and Rs.4.97 crore for beautifying the immensely popular Colva beach in South Goa, 40 kms from here, and the Calangute beach, 20 kms from the capital.

While Goa has been one of the top beach tourism destinations in India for the last few decades, erosion, over-population and litter has dampened its reputation as a beach tourism paradise.

With virtually no infrastructure vis-a-vis basic amenities on the beaches, barring a privately managed lifeguard force along the state’s 100 kms plus long coastline, the state tourism department has been criticised for bad management of the top beaches in the state like Colva, Palolem, Agonda, Benaulim in South Goa and Anjuna, Calangute, Baga, Arambol and other beaches in north Goa.

The report also states that a Goa Haat, on the lines of the popular Delhi Haat, project was also been implemented in Goa to broaden the bouquet of experience of tourists coming to Goa.

“The scheme envisages multi cuisine restaurants, display of handicraft of all the states and a stage for performance,” the report states.

Goa attracts nearly 2.6 million tourists annually, of which nearly half a million are foreigners.

IANS