Sukhija Slams Crumbling Miramar Beachfront Works

Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Panaji Councillor Jack Sukhija has urged the Goa government to review the deteriorating Miramar beachfront development project undertaken by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and remove structures he described as environmentally damaging and a waste of public funds.
Calling for a reassessment of Smart City works along the coast, Sukhija said future interventions on Goa’s beaches should prioritise environmental protection and natural restoration over extensive concretisation. He alleged that the project had strayed from its original objective of coastal protection, resulting in unnecessary expenditure and ecological damage.
Addressing the media at Miramar beach, Sukhija, accompanied by AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik and city residents including social activist Patricia Pinto, architect Amita Kanekar and entrepreneur Aakash Madgavkar, criticised the IPSCDL project for replacing natural coastal features with concrete structures that have deteriorated within a few years of completion.
According to Sukhija, the project, estimated to have cost between ₹12.8 crore and ₹13 crore, was originally intended to strengthen the beach against erosion, shifting sand and strong coastal winds.
“The beach faced strong winds, shifting sand and erosion, and the funds were meant to address those issues. Somewhere along the way, in the back-and-forth of budgeting and execution, that original intent was lost,” he said.
He alleged that instead of strengthening the beach’s natural ecosystem, the project led to the construction of concrete pathways and gazebos that have already fallen into disrepair.
“What actually got built were concrete structures: a pathway that, within five years, is already falling apart, and gazebos that are now rusted and abandoned. The entire investment is effectively a write-off,” Sukhija said.
He maintained that Miramar’s sand dunes and native vegetation had long served as natural barriers against erosion and should have been preserved. Calling for a rethink of coastal infrastructure projects, he said beaches should be developed with minimal intervention and limited to essential public amenities.
Sukhija also raised concerns about public safety, claiming that the present layout posed risks to visitors. He compared the project with the nearby mangrove boardwalk, which he said had also suffered from poor maintenance despite its ecological significance.
Speaking at the briefing, social activist Patricia Pinto appealed to Smart City authorities to dismantle the damaged Miramar walkway and restore the beach’s natural character.
“You have wasted money, but please dismantle it. We want our sand back. This is a concrete structure,” Pinto said.
“We seem to be in love with concrete and we don’t know where to use it. Now we are coming and putting it on our beaches. I think this has to stop,” she added.
Sukhija said public issues often receive attention only after citizens and the media raise concerns and demand accountability.
“For three years, the Campal football ground issue went unnoticed. It was only when the media picked it up, along with the concerns of citizens, that we were able to bring it forward and push towards a resolution. This is what happens when citizens raise their voice. They bring issues into the open in search of a solution,” he said.