PANAJI
Raising concern about the destruction of the mangrove ecosystem, the All India Trinamool Congress Goa has petitioned the Governor to take steps to prevent the destruction.
"The State government should tell what action has been taken to protect mangroves after the reports of mangrove destruction," asked Kirti Azad, AITC Goa in-charge.
"Goa environment TMC will stand against the environmental damage in Goa," he added.
"Mangrove ecosystems are associated with a rich diversity of organisms and are also the nursery and breeding grounds of several marine life like prawns, crabs, fishes, and molluscs. Mangroves have immensely slowed down the pace of erosion on the west coast of India," states TMC in its petition to the Governor.
"There is an increase in the number of cases of cutting and clearing of mangroves along the coastal belt of Goa. Mangrove ecosystems are illegally converted into resorts and access to prospective real estate development," the petition points out.
"The outskirts of Panaji are endowed with rich mangrove growth, especially in the villages of Morombi o Grande and Morombi o Pequeno. However, there are allegations of illegal destruction of these mangroves," the petition states.
Originally, the width of the Bundh was set at 1.5 yards but as can be seen in the above-mentioned areas, the Bundh has been widened to form a road, it adds.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has utterly failed to protect Goa's rich ecosystem, be it by undertaking major projects which have not only devastated Goa's people, ecology, and environment or by allowing the transportation of 13 million tonnes of coal through Goa," alleged TMC leader Samil Volvoikar.
