Activist demands stop-work order, enforcement action
Social activists have flagged the work of clearing trees and vegetation from a sand dune at Sernabatim.
MARGAO
Even as the absence of sand dunes and water bodies triggered uproar at the extraordinary gram sabha of Colva panchayat earlier this week, environmental activist on Thursday flagged cutting of trees and vegetation from a sand dune in Sernabatim area of the village.
Environmental activist and Secretary of Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, Judith Almeida dashed off a letter to the Deputy Collector, Margao as well as the Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to intervene and initiate action.
In her message sent to the Deputy Collector, Margao, Almeida said the owners of the property have cut trees and cleared all the vegetation on top of what she termed as a largest sand dune in Sernabatim village. She pointed out that the area in question falls under the CRZ 1-A (NDZ) of CRZ III, even as she requested the authorities to immediately issue stop work order and stop further destruction and tampering of the sand dune.
Sources said the concerned talathi attached to the Salcete Mamlatdar office was deputed by the authorities to find out the ground reality. In another letter addressed to the GCZMA Member Secretary, Almeida said the illegal activity of clearing the vegetation cover has taken place on the peak of the approximately 7-8 metre tall sand dune.
