the goan I network
CANACONA
Reacting sharply to the NGT order pulling up GCZMA for failing to act against illegal structures at turtle nesting sites and other coastal areas, tourism stakeholders have insisted that there are no violations along the turtle nesting sites in the State.
Stating the private property shack owners could intervene in the NGT case by Goa Paryavaran Sanrakshan Sangharsh Samiti (GPSSS) against GCZMA, All Goa Private Property Shacks and Huts Owners Association President Dharmesh Saglani said there have been no violations of the turtles nesting sites at Agonda, Galgibaga, Morjim and Mandrem.
“All four turtle nesting sites in Goa have been identified by wildlife authorities and are accordingly designated and marked. No shacks have been permitted in the designated areas and hence, there is no violation, whatsoever, of the turtle nesting sites.”
“So I don’t see any threat to private property shacks in any of the four turtle nesting beaches, including Agonda beach,” Saglani told the The Goan, while reacting to the NGT order.
“At the most, I feel the GCZMA has not represented its say in the matter properly vis-a-vis the realities, nor is the government listening to our grievances.”
“There is no question of accepting the fate, but if needed, we will certainly intervene in the NGT, as a case filed by complainant GPSSS against many of private property shacks and hut owners was previously thrown out by the district court. May be, these facts were not presented by GCZMA counsel in their defence with the NGT,” added Saglani.
Saglani took a dig at the government for doing little to protect the livelihood of people from Agonda.
“If the government has no intention to protect the people of Agonda, who rely on only two main occupations, running shacks/huts and taxis, does it want all of them to get Portuguese passports and migrate to Europe?”
“If at all government had intentions to support its people, it would not have taken so long to introduce the ‘Single Window’ system to issue licences/permits to private shacks/huts.”
“We have been demanding ‘Single Window’ system since the last seven years. Had it been introduced, this would have averted several tourism activities being dubbed as illegal by authorities now. Several permits from the panchayat, CRZ, fire, health, excise, weights & measures, etc are dependant each other,” said Saglani.
Shekhar Pagui, a tourism stakeholder, stated that locals of Agonda had turned their coastline into one of Asia’s leading beaches since the last few years, without any contribution or assistance from the government.
“Even the smallest tourism operator pays nothing less than Rs 4-5 lakh a season towards GST. We cannot and simply will not allow authorities to kill our livelihood for the sake of turtles, which have not been affected till date.”
“The Agonda and Galgibaga beaches were initially earmarked as Turtle Rehabilitation Sites to promote tourists to these far-flung beaches, but now these very turtle nesting sites are being used by authorities to kill the tourism industry,” lamented Pagui.
