the goan I network
PANAJI
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and other organisations hit back at Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping for his statements that the country’s 7,500 km long coastline could help the development of the country, saying that the coastline is not meant for development.
The 7,500 km long coastline cannot be used for development. Our coastline is eco-sensitive which is why the Coastal Regulation Zone was formulated,” Olencio Simoes, vice chairman of the National Fishworkers
Forum said.
He said that the CRZ also served to protect the livelihood of the fishing and other local communities, living in the coastal areas, to conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development through sustainable manner.
“Even after the formulation of the CRZ, 42% of the coast has already been washed away and the main cause is the unplanned ports/ harbours which have been built,” Simoes said.
In Goa, Olencio stated, that about 20% of the 105 km of Goa’s coastline has already been affected by erosion.
The Colvale area in North Goa and River Talpona in South Goa has already been affected and every monsoon we witness massive erosion all over the 105 km coastline of Goa and if additional unsustainable development is continued then very soon Goa will be without a coastline and due to this tourism will be doomed.
The Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Co-op Society President Custodio D’Souza stated that Gadkari is fooling the people in the name of development.
“In the name of Sagarmala, government is investing Rs 15,000-crore for building infrastructure for waterways by nationalizing six rivers, doubling the railway track, building four-lane roads, etc only for private players who have taken over Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and which will benefit only Jindal and Adani and not the people of Goa as MPT has already laid off almost 50% of its employees by forcing them to take voluntary retirement,” he stated.
