MARGAO
Social activist Judith Almeida on Monday dashed off letters to various authorities, including the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) alleging denudation of a sand dune in the Sernabatim ward of Colva village for road construction and filling of land.
Photographs and videos of the destruction of the sand dunes were sent to the authorities, with a plea to identify the violators and register FIRs against the miscreants. She has also demanded that the authorities invoke the Polluter Pay Principle against the violators.
Judith has claimed that sand extracted from the dune is being used for filling of land for road construction in the area. She has pointed out that the work is being carried out in contempt of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had around half a decade ago, ordered for restoration after an illegal road was constructed.
The activist further pointed out that work on the filling of land for the road has come at a time when the execution application for the restoration of the alleged illegal road is pending before the NGT and is presently listed for hearing on August 10, 2022.
“It is requested that the GCZMA, Colva Biodiversity Management committee, Deputy Collector, Town and Country Planning, besides the Colva panchayat take immediate action as per the various laws including the Environment Protection Act 1986 and subsequent CRZ Notifications, TCP Act, Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994 rules, LRC rules etc, to identify the violators and take action including filing an FIR and applying the Polluter Pay Principle,” Judith demanded in her petitions to these authorities.
“I have attached the photographs and the videos showing how the sand dune has been illegally razed down to construct the road,” she said.
