PANAJI
The Congress leaders on Saturday stated that TMC leader and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao is trying to create fear among shack owners and fishermen saying depiction of sand dunes on the CZMP draft would be a disaster for the tourism in the state, which is totally misleading.“If sand dunes are not demarcated then we will lose coastal identity and our businesses,” Congress leaders said.
The GPCC General Secretary Architect Royla Fernandes along with GPCC spokesperson Olencio Simoes and Devsurbhee Yaduvanshi addressed a press conference in Panaji and rejected self-findings of Alemao.
"GCZMA has not wrongly depicted sand dunes along the coast. But they know the importance of these sand dunes, and are qualified to speak in that regard," Royla Fernandes said.
It may be recalled that Alemao had blamed CRZ officials over the matter and had said that as they are not Goans don't know the state and coast. The team had wrongly defined sand dunes on the entire coastal belt from Velsao to Cavelossim.
"Churchill Alemao is trying to derive political gains by misleading the people of the coastal area. His wish to split the votes will not come into reality," she said.
Olencio Simoes said that sand dunes are for the protection of the coastal area from strong surge, high waves and coastal flooding. “It also helps from soil erosion,” he said.
He said that if coastal areas get affected then even tourism will get affected. “We will lose our traditional livelihood,” he said.
He said that port limits should be denotified and sand dunes should be demarcated for the welfare of the fishing community. “If government fails to do this, then we will intensify our agitation to get justice,” he said.
