Chandipur beach, one of the famous beaches of India having several unique features, is infested with antisocial elements. With the easing of the pandemic triggered lockdown restrictions, one can see picnickers committing nuisances threatening the beautiful serene environment and wildlife. Riding bikes and plying of vehicles while have been prohibited on the beach but one can see hundreds of tourists vehicles on the beach throwing the restrictions into the wind.
The Chandipur beach coast has attained global popularity for its ‘Vanishing Sea’ phenomenon. Among others, the unique feature of the beach is that the sea during low tides recedes about 5-7 km twice in a day and the beach surface unlike other beaches is flat and not muddy. On Saturday a vehicle carrying a group of tourists from Soro area got trapped amidst surging waves during high tide. Although the tourists could escape fleeing from the vehicle yet the vehicle got stuck in the tide. However, the next day (Sunday), it could be retrieved from the sand with help machines. The beach, since it doesn't have dedicated police personnel unlike other prominent beaches, has become a place of congregation of anti-social people. Amid the thick casuarina trees, one can see hundreds of empty liquor bottles and containers besides other objectionable materials.
The tourists continue to litter the beach without any restrictions due to lack of adequate security personnel.
The local police officer of the Marine police station said four homeguards are deployed in the beach everyday, he said. Although the tourists are asked not to enter the beach with bikes and vehicles, yet they hardly care about it, he said.
