Locals accuse it of dredging activity in the waters off St Jacinto Island
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas along with others holds talks with Marman shipyard representatives.
Photo Credits: Vikram Nayak
VASCO
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas along with residents, activists and members of Sancoale Biodiversity Board on Monday stopped the works by Sancoale-based Marman Shipyard in the waters off St Jacinto Island.
Earlier on Sunday, several residents led by Fr Bolmax Pereira had alleged that dredging activity was being carried out by the shipyard, destroying the seabed, oyster breeding sites, recently planted mangroves and also causing dangers to people who would arrive to pick up oysters by making the seabed deeper than expected.
Speaking to reporters, Cortalim MLA Anton Vas said he had arrived after residents had protested the alleged dredging activity and a video of the activity going viral on social media.
"I rushed to the site on Sunday evening to verify and realised that dredging is being carried out. I then contacted the shipyard representative after taking the number from security and directed him to stop the works immediately.”
“I also contacted Verna police to stop this dredging activity and not permit it to resume. I wanted to verify further if they have necessary permissions and it seems that they have taken permission from GCZMA and MPA, but strangely they have not taken permission and NOCs from other local authorities like the panchayat, WRD , TCP department.”
“I have now told them to take all relevant permissions and an NOC from Sancoale Panchayat because people have objections that this activity has destroyed their livelihood and there are chances of people drowning with the depth being increased by this activity. Authorities must act on this and stop this work immediately," said Vas.
Sancoale Biodiversity Board member Eddie Fernandes thanked the MLA for his quick intervention and claimed that permission obtained by the shipyard was over a year old.
"They don't have permission from local authorities since the last one year. We demand the MPA to withdraw permission if the shipyard has failed to take permission of local bodies for over a year.”
“We feel a new channel is being dredged and locals will be affected to the most regarding their livelihood besides danger to their lives and hence, this permission should be withdrawn for the safety of the residents," said Fernandes.
