Benaulim MLA questions push for 10-m access in CRZ-III zone; alleges panchayat acting for realty interests
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas along with officials of various government agencies conducting inspection of the Fatrade beach access.
MARGAO
Officials representing the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), Salcete BDO, Forest and Goa Police conducted a joint inspection of the beach access at Fatrade-Varca over allegations of sand dune tampering.
The inspection called by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas saw the officials inspecting the access to the beach wherein a JCB machine was deployed by Warren Alemao reportedly at the request of the panchayat to clear the area of overgrown bushes.
After the inspection, the Benaulim MLA told the media that the inspection has revealed that the panchayat members and others involved in the bush clearing work are liable for prosecution under the provision of the BNS. He said since the area is falling under CRZ-III, taking heavy machine to the site amounts to violation of the CRZ provisions.
Secondly, he demanded to know why the panchayat is in favour of a 10-metre beach access when people from Varca and across the State are opposing 10-metre wide internal roads. “This shows that the panchayat is in favour of 10-metre roads in order for development of the beach properties. Our inquiries have revealed that the two properties located adjoining the beach access belongs to the BJP leaders, one from Goa and another from Bihar. This only goes to show that the beach access was cleared by the panchayat keeping the interests of the real estate developers in mind and not the local fishermen,” Venzy said.
He further said that forest officials have taken cognisance of the 38 trees standing along the beach access that have been cut down during the operation.
P’yat hits out at MLA for politicising issue
MARGAO: The Varca panchayat headed by Sarpanch Flavia Barretto has hit back at Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas for politicising the Fatrade beach access area, demanding to know where was the MLA when a sand dune was cut at Pedda couple of months ago. The panchayat has insisted that the overgrown bushes on the access were cleared at the request of the local fishermen.
Flanked by panchayat members Roland Fernandes and Furtado, the sarpanch said the MLA has levelled baseless allegations that the panchayat is responsible for the destruction of sand dunes. She demanded to know why the MLA did not raise a hue and cry over the destruction of sand dune at Pedda some months ago. “It was the panchayat that had written letters to various authorities to restore the damaged sand dune at Pedda. Will the same panchayat allow the destruction of a sand dune at Fatrade,” the sarpanch questioned.
