the goan I network
MARGAO
Will the authorities take into account the ground reality along the state coastal belt during the planning process, post-Cyclone Kyarr? This question is being posed by social activists as the surging sea water triggered by Cyclone Kyarr left a trail of destruction eroding a huge chunk of sand, bringing down loose stone walls, uprooting High Tide Line (HTL) markers, etc.
A walk down the Benaulim-Sernabatim-Colva beach belt reveals the devastation caused to the shore by the rising sea water and huge waves that battered the coast for three days. Take note, that the same stretch of beach belt had come under strain during the monsoons and the situation was aggravated during Cyclone Kyarr.
Says activist Judith Almeida, “The devastation left behind by Cyclone Kyarr should be a wake-up call for the authorities and our planners. The sea water just made inroads, threatening the belt and even structures. That a couple of compound walls just caved in only goes to show the seriousness of the problem.”
Judith pointed out that the planners should at least make a visit to the beach belt and inspect the extent of damage caused to the coast.
“The havoc wrought by Cyclone Kyarr should spur the planers not to plan the state, especially the coastal belt, from their air conditioned chambers, but only after going out into the field. They have made changes to the CRZ norms, by allowing development within 50 meters of the HTL. The time
has come to plan by taking note of the changing circumstances, including the climatic changes.”
The social activist pointed out that the beach belt has suffered denudation from a cyclone which just passed by 250 kms away from the Goa coast. “Just imagine what would have been the situation had Cyclone Kyarr hit the state with all force,” she added.
Benaulim resident Rudolf Barretto, who saw the extent of devastation caused by the recent cyclone, said this is perhaps the first time he has come across such a magnitude of damage caused to the coast. “This should hopefully open the eyes of the authorities and planners,” he said.
When The Goan called up Director of Environment, Johnson Fernandes to shed light on the damage caused to the state coastline, including the Sernabatim-Colva-Benaulim beach belt, he said the job of inspection falls within the domain of the district Collectors. He, however, hastened to add that they would definitely look into the sea erosion that has affected the coastal belt.
