Mapusa : The tar ball nuisance has raised its ugly head yet again. The Little Vagator beach (Ozran) in North Goa has been seeing the re-emergence of the black sticky substance in the last four days, causing inconveniences to tourists and local visitors.

Locals said that tar balls appear in May every year. However, this year they have made their presence felt a bit early. Beach cleaning workers undertake removal of the nuisance from the shore, but the black substance continues to bother everybody, the locals said.

“Tar balls have resurfaced on the beach in the last three-four days, which is causing a hassle to tourists and also locals who come to the beach to take their annual traditional bath,” the shack owner Sridhar Goltekar said.

If the oily substance comes in contact with human skin then it is difficult to remove as it doesn’t go away with soaping. One needs to use petrol or spray to get rid of it, he said.

A local resident blamed the boats for the tar ball menace as the vessels release oil which results in the substance coming ashore.

“The authorities should keep a watch on the errant boats so as to ensure that oil is not discharged,” the shack owner said.

Anjuna panchayat member Surendra Govekar urged the tourism department to examine the tar ball phenomenon so that visitors are not inconvenienced.

“The tourism department should take a serious note of the resurfacing of the black sticky substance on Goan beaches. The Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister should look into the matter and take remedial measures,” the panch said.