MARGAO
The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum has dashed of a letter to the Chairman/Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority lodging its objection to what the NGO termed as illegal permission/NOC/approval to erect a temporary restaurant/shack and wooden bio-fencing on a sand dune at Betalbatim village
In the letter, Forum Secretary Judith Almeida expressed her shock and surprise that the GCZMA has approved a temporary shack/restaurant in the property when the agency was expected to follow up on its own directions to restore the sand dune restored to its original state.
“ Subsequent to the dismissal of the matter by the Supreme Court of India, the GCZMA conducted three site inspections along with the Goa State Biodiversity Board the last one on 28.01.2025 for purpose of execution of its own order dated 03.07.2019.
"Hence, it is strange that despite the restoration of the sand dune not being completed as per its own order dt 03.07.2019 the GCZMA has now approved the permission for a temporary shack and wooden bio-fencing without confirming the restoration works”, she said.
Judith added: “Such serious lapses wherein permissions are approved by the nodal agency (GCZMA ) set up to preserve and protect the coastal environment is actually acting as an agent to cause severe damage to an already damaged eco-fragile primary sand dune, the first line of defence in the present times where climate change is causing the sea level to rise. Such actions will only create serious suspicion / doubts in the minds of the citizens on the functioning of the GCZMA”.
