Groups are demanding urgent action

Tourism Concern and community groups in Goa are calling for an end to water injustice resulting from poorly regulated tourism in the southern Indian state.

Tourism Concern, the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and Eco Footprints are demanding urgent action by the Goan government to address the overexploitation of Goa’s water resources by growing numbers of resorts and hotels.

Water access and quality for many communities are being undermined, while untreated sewage and dumped waste is contaminating waterways and polluting the fragile marine environment. This is jeopardising the sustainability of the tourism sector itself, upon which Goa’s economy heavily depends.

"Goa is popular with UK tourists and many major tour operators and hotel groups operate there. However, most visitors don’t realise the environmental devastation and water inequity being wrought by weak regulations and bad practices by the tourism sector. We’re asking people to back our campaign for change by signing our online petition," states Mark Watson, Executive Director of Tourism Concern.

"The hotels all have lush lawns and borewells. There is contamination of groundwater and huge consumption of water by hotels lowers the water table. Wells in the neighbouring village have already become saline and unfit for human consumption." Sheela Gracias - legal advocate and social activist.

More information: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Valere Tjolle
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