Bhatt Road Beach a Haven for Antisocial Elements
The antisocial activities going on on Bhatt Road beach for the past few years is a cause of worry to visitors as well as the locals. The beach is not conducive for them to spend time and relax, especially in the evenings, owing to its immoral stature.
“A lot of people prefer to sit here, but nowadays their number seems to be dwindling. The majority of them do not show any interest in visiting this place at dusk as college students consuming alcohol and drugs has become a usual sight here. Often couples are seen publicly indulging in carnal pleasure, taking advantage of the darkness on the beach. We have our own children growing up, and we fear whether they too will be lured into these enticements", says an official residing at Chungam, who preferred anonymity.
With lack of electric bulbs and security measures, the beach bears testimony to the apathy and laxity of the authorities in taking up stringent measures to curb the activities going on in the dark. "Our MLA once visited the place and assured us that he would try to resolve the issue by entrusting the authorities with the task of bringing bulbs and electric wires from West Bengal. But the promise is still on paper. Even police officials are reluctant to come to this spot", says Murali, a Chungam resident.
Until now, the locals' plea to the Corporation authorities and those at the helm of the Tourism Department regarding this issue have so far not elicited any response.
“One night, when I was standing near the beach, I saw a man trying to immerse his baby in the sea. He was fully drunk. I rushed to the spot immediately and saved the child. I could see this heinous act as I had a torchlight with me", says Deepu, an LIC agent.
It was in 2008 that the park on the beach was constructed by the Tourism Department as part of the tsunami rehabilitation scheme. There was a time when the beach was a favoured destination for tourists, but now it appears as a mere monument of its lost glory.
Not different is the opinion of others. "There is a particular spot on the seashore, which is meant only for performing the funeral rites of the dead. We consider it as a sacred place. But nowadays, these miscreants seem to dispose of empty liquor bottles and cigarette packets on this spot after consumption. They are not aware of the consequences of their deeds. It may even incite the religious sentiments of a particular community and trigger communal violence", says UDF committee member and Varakkal temple committee president P K Raghu. He also emphasised on the enforcement of stringent security measures to curb unfair activities at the place.
"What we all demand is an immediate solution to this problem. If this issue is left unattended, we will launch protest", say the locals.
However, brushing aside all the allegations raised by the locals, MLA Pradeep Kumar says that the beach had undergone electrification two times, but the anti-social elements of the area seem to have vandalised or stolen the bulbs and other equipment.
He also says that funds have already been allocated for the maintenance work and that he will take initiatives to deploy security personnel to prevent immoral activities on the beach.