Aam Aadmi Party's Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas, has given notice to Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar of two private member's bills he proposes to introduce in the upcoming monsoon session, aimed at "rescuing" Goa's coastal creeks and their ecosystems and the agricultural lands.
One of the proposed legislations, the Coastal Creek Protection Bill aims to tackle the neglected coastal creeks which are lifelines for irrigation, fisheries, and for ecological balance.
In this bill, Viegas is pushing for a robust legal framework to shield the creeks from plastic pollution, encroachments, and unchecked exploitation by empowering local communities and holding polluters accountable.
His other legislation -- Agricultural Land Protection Bill -- aims to enhancing the existing protections for Goa’s farmlands in line with the Goa Amrit Kaal Agricultural Policy, 2023, which the government recently adopted.
In a statement, Viegas said Goa's creeks are suffocating and farmlands are slipping away.
"These bills are AAP’s promise to fight for our environment and for farmers with real solutions, not just recycled promises. I appeal to all the MLAs to support these bills and back this vision for a sustainable Goa,” Viegas said.
