VASCO
Sancoale Panchayat on Wednesday issued a stop-work notice to Marman Shipyard in Sancoale, after residents of Bonde Bhaat on Tuesday accused the shipyard of dredging activity.
Speaking to reporters, Sancoale Sarpanch Girish Pillai informed that the shipyard has not applied for any permission from the panchayat.
"We received a complaint signed by several residents on Tuesday stating that the shipyard is allegedly carrying out dredging activity. Taking cognisance of the complaint, we have immediately issued a stop-work notice to the shipyard.”
“The shipyard has neither informed us nor taken any permissions from the panchayat. We will carry out a site inspection on Thursday at the shipyard to check on the complaint. We will not entertain any activity that harms the environment, especially the marine life and endangered species," said Pillai.
Abhinav Godbole of Marman Shipyard had earlier claimed that they were only desilting and not dredging the area, since silt had accumulated over the last ten years after there was no movement along the coast due to a ban on mining activity.
Godbole claimed that his company has permission from MPA and GCZMA and they have already submitted their letter to the panchayat and were awaiting its permission.
