Mapusa: The hustle and bustle that characterizes the tourism season may have mellowed down at Morjim beach, but the garbage generated will continue to haunt the villagers during the monsoon. Huge heaps of garbage are seen dumped along the roads and open spaces in Morjim, and the villagers complain that the storm water generated during the monsoon transports this garbage into fields and water bodies.
Sources said that hoteliers and shack owners clandestinely dump garbage during the night at many places in Ashvem and Gawdewada. Besides polluting water bodies, garbage is also burnt in some places, thus creating air pollution too.
Plastics, food items, glass bottles constitute most of the garbage found at isolated spots in the village.
"Tourism is needed, it boosts the economy of the village, but its side effects should not destroy the village. Those who generate garbage also generate income out of tourism, so they should take care of their own waste; they cannot simply dump it at the cost of the villagers," said a local resident.
Another villager pointed out that the locals have a positive perception of tourism as it primarily generates revenue, but these secondary impacts are creating a nuisance and negatively affecting the quality of life.
