................Here,Here Bacca

I fully agree. It is a shame that the 'old' is lost but it is natural progression. The world is a much smaller place than it used to be because it is so easily accessible nowadays, and as more people travel to parts of the world tourism will follow.

It used to be that to travel to Greece or Turkey was considered exploring because it wasn't a mass tourism site, then it was India. There are now package holidays to China, and tourism will follow as it has in Goa.

I do think that the authorities should do something about the rubbish, pollution etc in Goa and other places as mass tourism hits but the bottom line is that if it costs money they won't. The locals, out of staters, beggers etc will all move in if there is money to be made whether it be in Goa or somewhere else. Some see that as a bad thing, some see it as an improvement for those people

I think it is a bit rose-tinted glasses to expect that a place will stay the same because it won't - whether it is for better or worse, or whether you judge it as better or worse.

I`m all for progress but not in the way the Goan authorities seem to think of it. I read something about waste dumps being left under order from the tourist department as they had nowhere to move it to dispose of it, how pathetic is that ? if they want tourist money then some of this money should be ploughed back in to the infastructure instead of allowing Goa to rot in its own filth

Totally agree with you BP regarding the authorities taking some responsibility on the rubbish/polution, they are great at reaping the money in from the tourists, but slow in spending it on improving the rubbish situation.

feel the vibe

if they want tourist money then some of this money should be ploughed back in to the infastructure instead of allowing Goa to rot in its own filth '

problem is its not Goa's filth its the tourists!

On the topic of rubbish, few weeks back I watched a young Goan kid ride his bike to the shop by a lolly and just chuck the wrapper on the floor.

The education and awareness stops that here to a degree, maybe the schools could incorporate that into lessons (not sure if they do but I witnessed it loads). Plus a lot of development but no bins or no littering signs, although they would look somewhat out of character

But on the other side of the coin has anyone seen the ladies sweeping the bridge roads?

I`m all for progress but not in the way the Goan authorities seem to think of it. I read something about waste dumps being left under order from the tourist department as they had nowhere to move it to dispose of it, how pathetic is that ? if they want tourist money then some of this money should be ploughed back in to the infastructure instead of allowing Goa to rot in its own filth

hear, hear. About time the politicians stopped lining their own pocket sand invested some of the cash that tourism brings in the infrastructure.

problem is its not Goa's filth its the tourists!

I agree with Goanluv.

We tourists generate rubbish by accepting plastic bags from stores rather than taking a jute bag shopping out with us.
We get through vast amounts of plastic water bottles which are not always disposed of correctly.
We use toiletries that are supplied in plastic bottles and leave them behind when we fly back home rather than returning the empties to the UK and depositing them at a recycling station.
We use toilet paper when we visit the loo rather than the Indian way of water.

I was told that Bacardi Breezer bottles are not reusable in India and are taken to landfill sites. For this reason I drink King's as the bottles are recycled.

I hate to see rampant overdevelopment. I'm no Luddite and know that progress has to be made but I worry if Goa has got the infrastructure to support it all.

Surely the vast increase in Malaria in Calangute must be linked with this development?

Sorry, didn't mean to put the entire post in a quote, just goanluv's bit about the filth being the tourists! ( sorted for you-Fiona :wink: )

PS I live in a 250 year old listed building with open fires and single glazed sash windows, I don't own a car and dress like a reject from 1970's. Perhaps this means that I hate progress!

feel the vibe
Quote:
if they want tourist money then some of this money should be ploughed back in to the infastructure instead of allowing Goa to rot in its own filth '

problem is its not Goa's filth its the tourists!

The rubbish and filth may be left over by us tourists but then again we are hardly going to take it home with us now are we ? when I first visited Goa in 1999 there were talk of plastic bags being banned, 8 years on and ??? the filth I refer to is the rubbish that is left to fester by the GOAN tourist officials, if we all had our way it would be dealt with but as we know it aint really gonna happen any time soon

The increase in malaria is commonly thought to be connected with the migrant labour force which comes to build the new developments in Goa, Encyphilitis (sp) is another one, I would hate to think what lies in these piles of rubbish too

problem is its not Goa's filth its the tourists!

I've got to agree that we create the demand for plastic water bottles - but we always ask for the 5 litre bottle which has a returnable deposit.
Surely the Goan government can sort out a recycling plant for the 1 litre bottles and pay a 1 rupee refund for them. Bet you wouldn't see many lying about then.

Sure the tourists contribute to the litter problem - but they also bring a huge amount of foreign currency into the country. Goa is in fact the richest state per capita in India, and Panaji is the second richest city per capita in India.

If you want to know what they do with the money - look at the newely erected statue at the traffic roundabout in Calangute.
Then there's the recently grassed football park in Candolim, which is watered daily. Yet the footpaths around the market just opposite, are strewn with litter, and have never been cleaned up for years. That litter is definitely not the fault of tourists.

Surely the Goan government can sort out a recycling plant for the 1 litre bottles and pay a 1 rupee refund for them. Bet you wouldn't see many lying about then.

they do that in Rio for bottles and cans and on a packed beach you won't find one empty one. As soon as you finish one someone is there asking for it. It would be a great earner for locals in Goa.

It's not just "us" tourists causing the problems - there were loads of reports about the IFFI causing rubbish mountains when we were there in December - the local govt hadn't arranged for the rubbish to be cleared away in Panjim

If you're up about daybreak you'll see the scavenger girls on their rounds, the main thing they are after is the 1 litre plastic bottles, you often see them tottering off with huge sacks of them on their heads. I,ve no idea where they take them or what they do with them, but they must get somehing for them somewhere Alan

Gramps!
I too have seen the people collecting plastic bottles, and they must get the odd rupee or thet wouldnt do it.
At the side of the Square in front of the Beach in Colva, there is a large area filled with plastic bottles, it must be a collection area.
I have no idea what happens to them next?
Ive also heard of a group called The Goa Foundation, who try to protect the Enviroment, they are in Mapusa. There is some information on http://www.goacom.com/goafoundation

Jan 2006 I regularly saw women carrying huge white sacks full of plastic bottles on there heads, along the beach in Candolim. However Jan 2007 I saw no evidence of this still being an on going practise, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening!!

I read in the newspaper whilst there in Jan/early Feb that a new garbage recycling plant is now planned for Goa. Lets hope there is an improvement in the rubbish that is littering the road, waste areas etc.

Most of the families we help collect glass, plastic, metal and carboard from the sides of roads and receive money for their efforts. For a whole days work they can get between 50 and 100 Rs/- for the things they collect. Unfortunately this means that they have to sift through huge piles of rubbish, broken glass, sharp rusting metal etc so always have cuts that need cleaning and covering (although the plasters/bangadges rarely stay on long... People should realise what a benefit to society these people are. In the west the government have to employ people to do this. In Goa it's normally the 'outsiders' from Karnataka and Marahastra or do this...

Although most people in India nowadays say they do not subscribe to the caste system- I think in practice it still exists.

The most menial and degrading jobs in society were always seen as the preserve of the Harijans (untouchables) and therefore, some Indians do not want to have anything to do with cleaning up litter or cleaning toilets etc..

I get some strange looks from people when I'm digging and cleaning the garden, some of them are even brave enough to say, you can get people to do that for you!!! :os