Demolition Part II

Paradise Beach in Gokarna
Om, Half Moon and Paradise are the three stunningly beautiful, panoramic beaches of Gokarna.

During our 2 hours of beach trek covering these beaches and adjacent hills, we hardly came across any trekkers. Half Moon beach only had a 'Sadhu' who had come all the way from Ayodha in his saffron rob, sitting peacefully in a clay hutment. It seems he travels through out the year across the country. A month in Gokarna and he said he will be moving to Goa, where he has 'friends'.

This was just before the sunset and not a single soul.

By the time we reached Paradise, we saw a lot of new 'eco-friendly' constructions coming up on the hillocks. Bamboo, coconut palm leaves, coir, mud and cow dung was all that they use to make these illegal shacks. All of them are powered by solar energy and have Internet access, restaurants and even small libraries consisting of 'left-over books' from previous travellers.

Considering the 'legal' buildings that damage the environment in rest of Gokarana, I found these shacks a wonderful way of living. Most of the shacks, especially those in the Paradise beach gets fresh water from the near by springs from the mountains. Compared to the shitty Town beach, these beaches are clean and no trace of waste anywhere. It literally felt like a Paradise.

New shacks coming up every year

I don't know how they are processing the waste, certainly it is not going back to the Panchayat facility, most probably its being burnt near the shacks itself or even dumped into the sea somewhere.

In any case, my enthusiasm about the 'eco-friendly' construction didn't last beyond few minutes when Anjali asked me to look around the shacks properly. A closer look revealed that many portions of the hillocks have been demolished using dynamites, so that the shacks can be positioned in scenic locations!

This shack was constructed after using dynamites to remove the hillock!

In some part of this small temple town, Government authorities are chasing down even small encroachments on to the streets. Were as on the distant beaches like Paradise, encroacher's are using dynamites to setup new shacks.

Even after many anonymous calls from our local friends to the forest and police departments, no action has been taken and of course will not be taken! Who the hell is going to trek that long distance over the mountains and all these beaches to reach the shacks and check the status? Instead its easy to take a bribe and sit in the comforts of your office).

Why on the earth can't we strike a balance ?
Bangalore © GP 2007