MARGAO
The issue of sand dune cutting at Pedda-Varca figured prominently at the gram sabha of the village panchayat of Varca on Sunday.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Salesiana Fernandes saw gram sabha members questioning the chair over the steps taken by the panchayat body on the issue.
Gram sabha members, including Warren Alemao persistently demanded to know from the Sarpanch whether the panchayat has till date lodged any complaint with the Goa Coastal Zone Management, CRZ and the police over the wanton destruction of the sand dune at Pedda.
When the Sarpanch sought to reply that the flying squad had come and inspected the sand dune site, Warren and other gram sabha members demanded to know the action taken by the panchayat in writing to the police, GCZMA and CRZ.
The flying squad must have come to the site for an inspection based on information received from many persons, Warren said, demanding to know why the panchayat has till date not written to the police, GCZMA or the CRZ for an investigation into the sand dune cutting.
The issue figured at the gram sabha meeting since the Colva police has not received any complaint from any authority, including the flying squad till date, to initiate criminal proceedings against those involved in the sand dune cutting.
The Varca panchayat with the help of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas had initiated the measure to restore the sand dune by deploying heavy machinery. However, the criminal proceedings in the case has hit a block for want of a complaint from any authority to the Colva police till date.
