the goan I network
PANAJI
Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Saturday strongly opposed the State’s plans to give Miramar beach a blue flag certification, claiming that the move would privatise the city’s beach.
Following the presentation on the blue flag certification of the beach that was held at the Goa Science Centre on Saturday afternoon, general secretary of GRE Olencio Simoes said that the blue flag certification being proposed is similar to the 2002 plan to develop the beach under then CM Manohar Parrikar, which was scrapped.
Simoes and the GRE has opposed the blue flag certification stating that Miramar beach is a “special case, an unique beach, so far left intact as a valuable public asset, public commons unlike other beaches in Goa which are already congested and commercialised.”
Explaining the GRE’s stand, Simoes said that the beach absolutely did not require facilities like landscaping and watersports, marina, mechanical cleaning, and a children’s park due to ecological and environmental concerns like existing sand dunes.
The collective of traditional fishermen also stressed the need for conserving the habitat of migratory birds like the plovers, terns and several other species that the beach is home to.
Further, Simoes said that the fisher people needed the entire waterfront/seashore to protect their livelihood and any proposal for developmental activity on the seaward side would hamper fishing activities of two kilometres on the beach. This is exactly the stretch used as a landing point for fishing canoes, nets, and drying.
Further, GRE has pointed out that messing with the sand dunes at Miramar would lead to sand erosion, coastal flooding and storm damage as sand dunes provide the supply of sand to maintain the beach.
Another objection raised was that Miramar Beach is situated at the estuaries of river Mandovi which is a breeding point for marine species. If development comes up there, it would doom species like seagulls, crabs, and shell species.
The stakeholder meet to discuss the blue flag certification of the beach was held by the North Goa Collectorate. Stakeholders present at the presentation were councillors of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP), panch members of Taleigao panchayat, members of the beach management committee, North Goa, Smart City officials, officials from Salgaonkar Law College and Sharada Mandir School, etc.
