Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, MLA Churchill Alemao and officials inspecting the sand dune restoration site at Cavelossim on Saturday. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
On World Environment Day, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral made a vow at Cavelossim to protect the age-old bunds along the river Sal and supply species of plants, including creepers to protect the white sandy beach from soil erosion with the participation of local communities.
The Environment Minister also paid a visit to the sand dune restoration site, saying a new beginning has been made in the restoration of a sand dune, but cautioned it will take at least 2-3 years for the sand dune to take shape via the natural process.
Cabral later visited the stretches of River Sal, including Nuvem to plant saplings. He announced that around 1,000 such plants will be planted along the river in the next four months, even promising to drop the saplings at the door steps.
Accompanied by Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, Cavelossim Sarpanch Denis Dias, Environment Secretary Kunal, Director of Environment Dashrath Redkar, GSBB Member Secretary Dr Pradip Sarmokadam, Cavelossim Bio Diversity Committee Chairman Dixon Vaz and others, the Environment Minister visiedt the site where the sand dune is being restored as per the NGT order. “This is a good beginning made by DRDA, panchayat body, the local bio-diversity committee to get something started. I don’t say it will get 100 per cent result as it takes time, but I feel this is a stepping stone for the future”, Cabral said.
Referring to the statement made by Cavelossim bio-diversity committee chief Dixon Vaz and the Sarpanch Denis Dias that the bund along the River Sal is breached at several points, Cabral said the local communities should take up the restoration work of the bunds, promising support from the Environment ministry and the DRDA. “These bunds were built more than 10 centuries ago by the local communities. The government was not in the picture. We are ready to support the panchayat and bio-diversity committee if they come with a proposal to restore the bunds”, he added.
Cabral did not agree to a suggestion to erect retaining walls to stop the sea erosion, saying that walls will not serve any purpose, while batting for the creepers to protect the dunes.
Saying around 1,000 saplings will be planted along the banks of River Sal, Cabral said the Bio Diversity Board provides saplings right at the doorsteps of the local bodies and coastal communities.
Sarpanch Denis Dias later told the media that the DRDA has restored the water nullahs which were damaged by the party following directions from the NGT. “The sand dune restoration work has been taken up by DRDA. And so were the water nullah works”, he said.
Villagers slam ongoing work to
restore Cavelossim sand dunes
MARGAO: Saying the Cavelossim Villagers Forum had fought to protect and save the environment, Adv Irish Passainha said though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued an order, the restoration work on sand dune was still incomplete.
“Cavelossim Villagers Forum had fought to protect and save the Environment by filing complaints against the party in 2014 for causing destruction to the environment in the No-Development Zone (NDZ), including sand dunes. The NGT had in 2020 ordered demolition of the illegal structures and restoration of the sand dune. However, the restoration is not complete. The sand dunes are not restored to its original condition.
We are celebrating World Environment Day without completing the restoration work and without any invitation coming to us”, Adv Irish stated, adding “we were not invited for the programme as we would have pointed out the status of the ongoing restoration work”.
