MARGAO
A three-member team of Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Friday inspected an island at river Sal to find out the extent of damage caused to the ecology by the ongoing dredging activity.
The three-member team was deputed by GCZMA Member Secretary Dashrath Redkar after a delegation of stakeholders led by Roy Barretto and the president of the traditional fishermen association, Agostinho Furtado called on him and impressed on the need to inspect the island to unearth the alleged violations.
The stakeholders explained to the team how the silt dredged from the river has been dumped on the island when the rules mandate the authorities to lift it away from the river.
Roy told the media that the island which was inspected by the GCZMA team is located in the river Sal between Chinchinim and Carmona stretch of the river.
“We have explained to the team how the silt has been dumped on the island in violation of the rules. We also drew their attention to the destruction of the mangroves by the dredging activity,” he said.
Traditional fishermen and other stakeholders have been vehemently opposing dredging of the river Sal, saying the dredging activity is being carried out to open a navigation channel for commercial activities and transportation at the cost of the lives and livelihood of the fishing communities.
