Good? Bad? Ugly?

Rubble mound wall at Campal lacks scientific validity

by Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas
photo credits: Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas

November 29, 2007: A rubble mound wall is being built along the river bank at Campal. The site constitutes a Tongue of Sand, with ample vegetation on it. The justification for this massive structure is not communicated to the public. Nevertheless, the accompanying pictures expose the fate of the body of sand, the geomorphic feature that adds aesthetics to Panjim city and the river bank that accommodates the children's park.

This is a case where medicine is being prescribed where there is no disease. The presumption that the sand body

(1) gets flooded and (2) is getting eroded, is a drama to confuse the public. The loss of a few coastal trees does not call for any drastic measures. I understand that the hidden agenda is a 30 m broad road (to service a starred resort) that is being built, a proposal that already finds place in the Panjim ODP.

See the photo (Click photo to enlarge) showing the rubble mound dipping in the water: the thick, lush green grass on the upper beach (in the foreground) is a clear indication of a stable coastal sand body that is probably evolving into a dune. It is precisely this stretch that is being excavated, to be filled by boulders. I have yet to witness such a sham being committed on a stable river bank!

Our unpublished data shows that this body has accreted over the last 40 years. Presently, there is no evidence whatsoever of any persistent erosion. Flooding and removal of sand on any beach is common during monsoons when wind speed is doubled, leading to an increase in heights of wind-driven waves, with subsequent wave up-rush that often erodes the dune base. These are seasonal and cyclic shoreline changes of any dynamic beach - dune system. The Campal sand body is an accreting system and does not call for any management measures at the moment.

Instead, soft options such regeneration of natural sand dunes and planting of beach vegetation, rather than a colossal sea wall at a prohibitive cost to the tax payer, can be opted for. The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 has taught us several lessons; none of the sea walls survived.
We have plenty of research confirming that globally, sea walls do not serve any purpose,the beaches in front of it are invariably very narrow, and maintenance costs are exorbitant. Sea walls are hence unsustainable.


The sea wall of a starred hotel in Miramar has crumbled several times, and the little beach in front of it (in 1996) no longer exists.
Here, the river bank has lost its inherent protective value, exacerbated by the construction of the sea wall. Therefore, the Campal sea wall lacks scientific validity, and is hence unwarranted.







The observations made above are the personal views of the author

From the Discussion Forum

crooks governing Goa Sep 16, 08 | viriato_fernandes

TRUE PATRIOTISM Oct 18, 08 | sachinbhat

Incorporate Roman Konkani Script Sep 27, 08 | ARWIN

Garbage disposal/collection system Jan 20, 08 | sugarnspice

CALL TO ACTION – Goa’s Identity. Mar 20, 08 | ARWIN