MARGAO
Activist waging a battle against the CRZ notification 2019 reducing the No Development zone from 200 metres to 50 metres have come in for another shock “ a draft amendment to the notification seeking to permit exploration of hydro carbon and gas without CRZ permission; proposal for permanent structures on the beach instead of seasonal structures for beach shacks and to clear the natural sand bars.
Addressing the media, leader of Goencha Ramponkarancho Ekvott and Congress party leader Olencio Simoes slammed the Centre for coming up with the draft amendment to the CRZ notification when the activists have challenged the Notification in the High Court.
“The draft notification allowing exploration for gas and hydro carbons in the sea will destroy the silvery sands of Goa. Such activities will also destroy the livelihood of the traditional fishermen eking a living on the activity”, he said.
Olencio contended that the amendment seeks to provide free hand to the government to carry out exploration in the sea from the beach point without taking into account that the local population may be involved in the tourism activity.
“Just imagine a situation when hydro carbon or gas exploration is taken up off any Goan beach and the same is abandoned if the exploration does not find much gas or hydrocarbon. Will tourism survive on this beach belt”, he questioned.
Similarly, he took strong exception to the draft amendment seeking to provide permanent structures on the beach belt.
“Right now, we have these seasonal shacks erected on a temporary basis, wherein the structures are lifted away after the season, which allows the natural process to restore any damage to the beach. Permanent structures mooted in the draft Amendment will spell doom for the environment and the eco-fragile areas along the beach belt”, he asserted.
Olencio further said the proposal in the draft-amendment to remove the sand bars will only end up in destroying the environment and marine species and will hasten erosion of the sea.
