Panaji, Jul 12 (IBNS): A report by government-appointed committee to assess the damage at Candolim beach stretch due to the River Princess ship which was grounded off the shore and removed only recently, said the coastline has been eroded.

The report, prepared by District Collector Mihir Vardhan was tabled on the floor of the House on Thursday.

Reading out the contents of the report, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the sand dunes which formed protective cover were washed away and as a result the properties along the beach were severely affected by the soil erosion.  

“Due to the presence of the huge ship, the beach stretch was severely eroded by constant bashing of the eaves due to which sand dunes were washed away thereby forming cliffs of more than 4 to 6 meters in here that were collapsing,” the report stated.

The minister assured the House that sand nourishment activity will soon be taken up for beach formation and for improving the bathymetry of the coastline.

“The water resources department had floated tenders for the protection of the beach at Candolim and its accretion,” he added.

National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) which had also conducted a study on soil erosion at Candolim had revealed that 75 meters of the beach had lost to erosion prior to 2008 monsoon, and that 1.1 km of the beach north of Aguada bastion was also under erosion. 

The vessel, which ran aground the shoreline 12 years ago on June 6, 2000, was removed in May 2012. The ship had to be cut into pieces as it could not be towed away.

The government had banned swimming around the stranded ship. 

(Reporting by John Edwards)