Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has raised serious concerns over environmental and public health risks in the state, citing recent findings by the National Institute of Oceanography that place Goa’s beaches among the most contaminated along India’s western coastline.
GPCC President Amit Patkar, in a press statement, said alarming levels of toxic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected on microplastics pose a grave threat not only to marine biodiversity but also to public health and Goa’s tourism-driven economy.
He further pointed out that the Indian Space Research Organisation had earlier warned about increasing coastal erosion along Goa’s shoreline, highlighting that repeated alerts from credible scientific institutions cannot be ignored.
Criticising the government, Patkar alleged that despite such warnings, the BJP-led administration has remained “indifferent and inactive.” He also referred to the recent water contamination incident in Dabolim, where around 149 residents were reportedly affected by diarrhoea, calling it a reflection of administrative failure.
The Congress has demanded immediate and time-bound measures, including a comprehensive coastal pollution audit, stricter regulation of industrial and urban waste discharge, steps to curb microplastic pollution, and a transparent action plan to address coastal erosion. It also stressed the need to strengthen public health safeguards to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
“Goa cannot afford to ignore these warning signs any longer. Protecting the environment is essential for safeguarding the health, livelihood, and future of every Goan,” Patkar stated.
